US-Japan missile defense technology development

Lockheed Martin is advancing missile defense capabilities and integration in the Indo-Pacific region through hardware delivery and software prototyping.

In August 2026, the company completed the first integrated shipset for Japan’s Aegis System Equipped Vessel (ASEV) program. This equipment, featuring AN/SPY-7(V)1 radar arrays and the Aegis Combat System, is slated for shipment to Japan to enhance the nation’s integrated air and missile defense. The program aims to provide 360-degree coverage against ballistic and airborne threats while maintaining interoperability with U.S. Navy Aegis fleets.

Concurrently, Lockheed Martin demonstrated an artificial intelligence-driven battle management prototype intended for the Guam Defense System (GDS). Tested in Texas, the prototype uses the CommandIQ platform to fuse data from multiple networks, such as Aegis Guam and the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS). The system employs algorithmic shot selection to recommend efficient responses to threats, aiming to assist commanders in faster decision-making and the preservation of high-cost interceptors within a layered defense architecture in the Western Pacific.