Raytheon bags Japanese Navy destroyer contract

U.S. defense contractor Raytheon has received a $9.6 million contract for work on the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Takanami-class destroyers.

The contract was awarded to Raytheon by the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command under the foreign military sales program and will see the company deliver launcher control processors to Japan.

The processors are likely being delivered for the Evolved Sea Sparrow ESSM (RIM-162) surface-to-air missiles which are built by Raytheon and used on the destroyers.

In addition to the ESSM, Takanami-class destroyers carry the Japanese version of the Harpoon anti-ship missile, Type 90 Ship-to-Ship Missile (SSM-1B), and the Lockheed Martin-built RUM-139 VL-ASROC anti-submarine missile.

The 151-meter destroyers were constructed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and IHI Marine United and entered service between 2003 and 2006.