A New Shield for the Indo‑Pacific: Inside Japan’s First ASEV Shipset
Delivering with speed – four SPY‑7 Radar arrays, shipboard radar backend, and Aegis Combat System ready for shipment!
Thousands of miles from Japan, a shipment is being prepared from Moorestown, New Jersey that will help shape the future of the nation's maritime defense.
Lockheed Martin has successfully completed validation of the first fully integrated Aegis System Equipped Vessel (ASEV) system. This first system includes all four SPY‑7 radar arrays, the shipboard radar processing, power and cooling suites, and the Aegis Combat System computing and display equipment which is now ready for packaging and shipment to Japan. When received later this year, the equipment will be installed, integrated on‑ship, and run through final acceptance testing, forming the foundation of a next generation integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) capability designed to detect, track and counter some of the world’s most advanced threats.
“Delivering the first ASEV shipset on schedule reinforces Lockheed Martin’s commitment to Japan in ensuring 21st Century Security across the Indo-Pacific region,” said Chandra Marshall, vice president of Multi-Domain Combat Solutions at Lockheed Martin. “This milestone continues to demonstrate the SPY‑7 radar program’s proven maturity and showcases how rapidly our technology can move from concept to capability.”
Why This Matters: Stability in the Pacific
The ASEV program is more than a technical accomplishment, it is a strategic leap for Japan’s maritime defense. Each ship will be equipped with four AN/SPY‑7(V)1 arrays, providing an unparalleled detection envelope, 360‑IAMD coverage, and the ability to track many simultaneous ballistic missile and airborne threats, delivering unmatched IAMD capability.
Coupled with the Aegis Combat System, ASEV becomes a mobile shield that protects critical sea lanes, airspace and the nation’s homeland.
Upon commissioning, both ASEVs will be fully interoperable with Japan’s existing Kongo, Atago, and Maya-class Aegis destroyers, as well as with allied naval forces, including the U.S. Navy’s Aegis fleet. This is enabled by the common core uniting the ships – the Aegis Combat System.
Lockheed Martin has worked closely with the Missile Defense Agency, Japan Ministry of Defense and industry partners to ensure the equipment meets the highest standards of quality, reliability and capability.
ASEV has created new opportunities and collaboration between the United States and Japan, and we are committed to continuing to work together to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of Japan. By producing key SPY-7 radar components in Japan for sustainment and future production, Japan can have complete confidence that this system will be fully supported, maintained, over the long haul, with decades of reliable performance.
Missile Defense Agency, Japan Ministry of Defense, Lockheed Martin and Mitsubishi International Corporation representatives celebrate the successful completion of testing for the first ASEV shipset during a pull plug ceremony.
What’s Next?
With the first ASEV equipment shipset being prepared for shipment to Japan for ship installation and test, the follow‑on shipset 2 is slated for a light‑off in the Moorestown, N.J. Production Test Center facility later this fall, keeping the program on track for the two ships commissioning in 2027 and 2028.
Beyond the system hardware, the ASEV program is forging a collaborative framework: U.S. and Japanese engineers are co‑developing maintenance procedures, training curricula, and a supply‑chain strategy that will keep the radar arrays operating at peak performance for decades.