U.S. OKs $2 bil. sale of Aegis Ashore missile defense systems to Japan

The United States has approved a planned sale of two Aegis weapon systems and related equipment to Japan for an estimated cost of $2.15 billion, the State Department said Tuesday.The planned sale involves the land-based Aegis Ashore missile defense system, which Japan is considering setting up in two locations -- Akita and Yamaguchi prefectures -- in fiscal 2023 to counter the North Korean missile threat, according to U.S. officials.The sale "will provide the government of Japan with an enhanced capability against increasingly sophisticated ballistic missile threats and create an expanded, …READ FULL ARTICLE