The Bush administration has authorized the sale of 40 naval surface-to-air missiles to Japan, saying its Pacific ally needs the weapons to defend vital sea lanes. The SM-2 Block IIIB missiles are carried on warships and can shoot down incoming missiles and aircraft. The total value of the deal, which would include technical support and spare parts, could be as high as $104 million, according to a statement from the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). The sale will not affect the basic military balance in the Pacific, DSCA said. Japan's potential adversaries include North Korea and China, which have large militaries. "Japan is one of the major political and economic powers in East Asia and the Western Pacific and a key ally of the United States in ensuring the peace and stability of this region," DSCA said. "The SM-2 missiles will be used on ships of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force fleet and will provide enhanced capabilities in providing defense of critical sea lanes." The U.S. Congress has one month to cancel the sale, but such a move is considered unlikely.
