In this photo provided by South Korea Defense Ministry, South Korean Navy's Aegis destroyer King Sejong the Great, front, sails with US Navy's Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry, center, and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's destroyer Atago, top, during a joint missile defense drill between South Korea, the United States and Japan in the international waters of the east coast of Korean peninsular, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. (South Korea Defense Ministry via AP)
The Pentagon announced on Friday that the US State Department had cleared the possible $2.35 billion sale of 400 Tomahawk missiles and associated equipment to Japan.
The transaction occurs as US President Joe Biden and Chinese Leader Xi Jinping, in their first in-person meetings in a year, decided on Wednesday to establish a presidential hotline, recommence military-to-military communications, and try to reduce the manufacturing of fentanyl.
The package would include 400 Tomahawk missiles, 14 Tactical Tomahawk Weapon Control Systems, software, support equipment, spares and technical support, the Pentagon said.
The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the possible sale on Friday.
Despite approval by the State Department, the notification does not indicate that a contract has been signed or that negotiations have concluded.
The Pentagon said Raytheon is the principal contractor for the weapons.
