U.S. has approved a $200 million deal to boost Japan’s high-speed weaponry

On March 11, 2025, the U.S. State Department authorized a potential foreign military sale to Japan valued at $200 million, aimed at supporting Japan’s Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectiles (HVGP) program, as stated by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).

This agreement, which is pending Congressional approval, encompasses various equipment and services to assist Japan in developing this sophisticated weaponry, intended to enhance its defense capabilities.

The announcement, made to Congress on the same day, highlights the strengthening military collaboration between the United States and Japan in response to increasing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. As a vital ally of the U.S., Japan seeks to improve its defense of remote islands through this technology, while the U.S. views the sale as a means to promote regional stability.

The DSCA’s notification specified that Japan has requested support for its domestic HVGP initiative, a high-speed projectile system designed for defensive applications. The package does not include the projectiles themselves but focuses on support services such as test preparation, testing, transportation, and coordination meetings between U.S. and Japanese officials.

These meetings are planned to take place in both nations, although no additional U.S. personnel will be deployed to Japan under this agreement. The estimated $200 million cost represents the maximum potential value, with the final amount likely to be lower based on Japan’s specific needs and the terms agreed upon in any final contract.

The proposed sale occurs at a time when Japan is increasingly prioritizing the enhancement of its defense capabilities, particularly in light of regional security threats. The HVGP technology, currently under domestic development in Japan, is engineered to achieve hypersonic speeds and glide towards designated targets, thereby providing a swift response capability.

As stated by the DSCA, this system will bolster Japan’s capacity to address both present and future threats, with a specific focus on safeguarding its remote island territories. These islands, dispersed throughout the Pacific, have emerged as a strategic concern amid rising tensions with neighboring nations regarding maritime boundaries and resource entitlements.

A spokesperson from the State Department, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussion, highlighted the broader significance of the transaction. “This sale is in line with U.S. foreign policy objectives, as it strengthens the security of a key ally in the Indo-Pacific,” the spokesperson noted.

“Japan’s stability is essential for maintaining peace and fostering economic development in a region that holds significant global importance.” While the spokesperson refrained from detailing the specific threats that have driven Japan’s interest in this technology, analysts suggest that ongoing conflicts in the East China Sea and the overall military escalation in the area are likely contributing factors.

The HVGP initiative itself remains somewhat enigmatic, as Japan has disclosed limited information regarding its technical specifications. Nevertheless, experts characterize hyper-velocity gliding projectiles as an advanced category of weaponry that merges extreme speed—often surpassing Mach 5—with agility, rendering them challenging to intercept.

In contrast to conventional ballistic missiles, which follow a predictable trajectory, gliding projectiles possess the ability to modify their path during flight. This feature could be vital for Japan, a nation bound by a pacifist constitution that limits its military operations to defensive measures, as it aims to deter potential threats without resorting to offensive actions.

The certification from the DSCA to Congress emphasized that the proposed sale will not upset the military equilibrium in the Indo-Pacific region. This evaluation demonstrates a thoughtful approach by U.S. officials, who are acutely aware of the sensitive relationships between Japan, China, and other regional stakeholders.

China, which is developing its own hypersonic weapons capabilities, has yet to issue an official response regarding the proposed sale. Nevertheless, previous remarks from Beijing have condemned U.S. military assistance to Japan as a factor contributing to instability.

In a briefing earlier this year, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin accused the United States of “fueling tensions” through arms transactions with its Asian allies, although he did not provide specific evidence related to Japan’s HVGP initiatives.

For the United States, this sale signifies a reaffirmation of its enduring commitment to Japan’s defense as outlined in the U.S.-Japan Mutual Defense Treaty established in 1960. This treaty mandates U.S. support for Japan in the event of an attack, while Japan offers bases and logistical assistance to American forces in the area.

Over the years, this alliance has progressed to encompass joint military drills, intelligence sharing, and an increasing focus on the co-development of defense technologies. The HVGP support package enhances this partnership, although it does not involve direct collaboration on the design or production of the projectiles.

Japan’s Ministry of Defense has not officially disclosed the specifics of the sale, but it has previously indicated intentions to enhance its standoff defense capabilities—systems designed to address threats from a distance. In its 2024 defense white paper, published in July, the ministry emphasized the necessity of “ensuring the safety of remote islands” in light of what it termed an “increasingly severe security environment.”

The document referenced ongoing concerns such as North Korea’s missile tests and China’s naval expansion, although it refrained from identifying specific adversaries related to the HVGP program.

The financial details of the agreement remain uncertain. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) clarified that the $200 million figure represents a maximum limit rather than a definitive cost. “The description and dollar value are based on initial requirements,” the agency noted in its announcement.

“The actual dollar value will likely be lower, contingent on final requirements, budget authority, and finalized sales agreements, if and when they are reached.” This disclaimer highlights the intricacies of foreign military sales, which frequently involve lengthy negotiations and modifications based on the buyer’s financial limitations.

With a defense budget of around $50 billion for 2025, Japan has the capacity to manage this expenditure, although it must also consider military spending in relation to domestic issues such as an aging population and economic recovery.

The announcement from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) did not identify any private contractors, indicating that the U.S. government will directly provide the necessary equipment and services. This strategy contrasts with many foreign military sales, which typically involve American defense companies such as Lockheed Martin or Raytheon.

The lack of a contractor at this point implies that the focus of the deal is on technical support rather than the production of hardware. The DSCA also mentioned that there are currently no “offset agreements” proposed, which are arrangements where the buyer seeks economic advantages like local employment; however, such agreements may arise during negotiations between Japan and potential U.S. suppliers.

If the sale is approved, it will not necessitate an increase in U.S. personnel stationed in Japan, a detail likely aimed at alleviating concerns in Tokyo. Japan is home to approximately 54,000 American troops, the largest overseas deployment of U.S. forces, and there have been instances of public discontent regarding the presence of foreign military personnel.

By confining the deal to services and coordination, the U.S. minimizes its military footprint in the region. The DSCA also confirmed that the sale will not affect U.S. defense readiness, ensuring that it will not overextend American resources or divert assets from other critical areas.

The proposal now awaits Congressional review, which has a 30-day window from March 11, 2025, to assess it under the Arms Export Control Act. While lawmakers have the authority to object and potentially block the sale, such actions are uncommon for allied countries like Japan.

In recent years, Congress has approved similar transactions with little debate, including a $23 billion sale of F-35 jets and munitions to Japan in 2020. Unless there is unforeseen opposition, the HVGP support package is anticipated to progress, with final details negotiated in future discussions.

This sale is part of a larger trend in U.S. arms exports, which totaled $238 billion in the fiscal year 2023, according to data from the State Department. Japan is among the leading purchasers, alongside countries such as South Korea and Australia, as the U.S. aims to strengthen its allies against potential threats.

The Indo-Pacific region, characterized by both economic growth and geopolitical tensions, is a key area for these initiatives. Japan’s interest in hypersonic glide vehicle (HVGP) technology reflects similar actions by other nations, including the U.S., which conducted its own hypersonic weapon test in 2021, and Russia, which announced the deployment of such systems in Ukraine in 2022.

This announcement represents a modest yet important advancement in Japan’s defense modernization efforts, influenced by the evolving regional dynamics. Although the $200 million cost is relatively small compared to other arms transactions, the strategic implications of HVGP capabilities could have lasting effects.

The impact of this development on deterring aggression or potentially escalating arms races in the Indo-Pacific remains uncertain—an issue that policymakers in both Washington and Tokyo will closely monitor as the program progresses.