The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Japan of Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA missiles for an estimated cost of $133.3 million on 9 January. The Government of Japan has requested a possible sale of four Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA missiles along with four MK 29 missile canisters and technical assistance, transportation, engineering and logistics support services. The SM-3 Block IIA is an anti-ballistic missile that can be employed on Aegis-class destroyers or on land, via the Aegis Ashore program. The new Block IIA will extend intercept range from 700 km to 2,500 km. The Japanese government plans to deploy the anti-ballistic missiles in fiscal 2021.