TOKYO / KAWASAKI, : On 12 February 2026, Lockheed Martin has formally issued its first production purchase order to Fujitsu Limited for a key radar subsystem component supporting Japan’s Aegis System Equipped Vessel (ASEV) program. The agreement converts a memorandum of understanding signed in May 2025 into an active manufacturing contract and establishes Fujitsu as an official supplier within the SPY-7 radar industrial base.
The purchase order covers production of the SPY-7 Subarray Suite Power Supply Line Replaceable Unit (PS LRU), a core module integrated into the radar’s antenna architecture. With this step, a portion of SPY-7 manufacturing will now be based in Japan, supporting domestic production capability and long-term sustainment requirements for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).
Power Supply Line Replaceable Unit (PS LRU): Role and Design
The PS LRU provides regulated electrical power and control functions to dedicated radar subarrays within the SPY-7 system. Designed as a Line Replaceable Unit, the module can be removed and replaced in operational environments, including at sea or in dockyard conditions, without extensive system disassembly. This modular configuration reduces maintenance downtime, simplifies lifecycle logistics, and enables faster return-to-service timelines.
Local production of the PS LRU enhances Japan’s capacity to independently maintain critical elements of its ballistic missile defense radar infrastructure. The SPY-7 system incorporates solid-state transmit and receive modules, improving reliability and reducing maintenance demands compared with legacy vacuum tube-based radar technologies.
At the signing ceremony, Chandra Marshall, Vice President and General Manager at Lockheed Martin, stated that the agreement advances the establishment of a Japan-based supply chain for the ASEV’s SPY-7 radar. Kenichiro Miyazaki, Senior Vice President and Head of the National Security Business Unit at Fujitsu, confirmed the company’s role in strengthening Japan’s domestic production and sustainment framework.
SPY-7 Radar Architecture and Capabilities
Developed by Lockheed Martin, the SPY-7 radar is built on solid-state, gallium nitride (GaN)-based active electronically scanned array (AESA) technology. The radar is composed of scalable radar module assemblies arranged to provide wide-area coverage across multiple azimuth sectors.
Program data indicates that SPY-7 delivers detection performance several times greater than the legacy SPY-1 radar systems currently deployed on Japan’s older Aegis destroyers. The system is engineered for high sensitivity and discrimination against complex air and missile threats, including small, high-speed ballistic targets operating in cluttered environments.
Through digital beamforming and advanced signal processing, SPY-7 performs search, tracking, and missile guidance functions simultaneously without mechanical rotation. In ballistic missile defense operations, the radar can detect ascent-phase trajectories, maintain continuous tracking during midcourse flight, and provide fire-control-quality data to interceptor systems. It also supports precision tracking of conventional air threats, including low-flying cruise missiles, at ranges potentially extending several hundred kilometers.
The radar’s open architecture design enables interoperability with external sensors and combat systems. Via secure data links and cooperative engagement frameworks, SPY-7 can share tracking data with shipborne interceptors, airborne early warning platforms, and allied naval units operating within integrated task groups.
ASEV Program Structure and Platform Specifications
Japan selected SPY-7 for its ASEV fleet following the cancellation of the Aegis Ashore program in June 2020. Transitioning the ballistic missile defense mission to sea-based platforms provides operational mobility and enhances survivability by allowing vessels to reposition around the Japanese archipelago or operate within allied formations.
The ASEV platform is larger than standard destroyer classes, measuring approximately 190 meters in length with a standard displacement of about 12,000 tons. Two vessels are currently under contract. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is constructing the first ship, with commissioning scheduled for 2027. Japan Marine United is building the second vessel, planned for commissioning in 2028.
The ships will integrate the Aegis Combat System, responsible for sensor fusion, threat evaluation, and weapon assignment. In combination with SPY-7, the system will support layered missile defense operations employing Standard Missile interceptors, including the SM-3 and SM-6 variants.
Industrial and Policy Context
Fujitsu’s entry into the SPY-7 supply chain supports initial ship outfitting, long-term maintenance cycles, and potential future modernization pathways. The modular architecture of SPY-7 allows incremental upgrades through software enhancements and hardware replacements, extending operational lifespan without full system redesign.
The co-production model aligns with Japan’s broader defense policy adjustments, including revisions to export control frameworks, increases in defense spending, and expanded technological cooperation with the United States and Indo-Pacific partners. Establishing domestic production for advanced radar components strengthens Japan’s defense industrial base, reduces reliance on overseas supply chains, and supports national technological self-reliance within its missile defense architecture.
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