Japan and the United States are collaborating on the development of new Aegis missile destroyers to replace the Congo class

 The Japanese Agency for Procurement, Technology and Logistics is indeed working with the US Department of the Navy to develop new missile destroyers with the Aegis combat system. According to the information, the contract with the US Department of Defense concerns a technical study on the replacement of Congo-class destroyers. As part of this program, Japan is upgrading its Aegis-equipped destroyers and plans to equip them with American Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of more than 1,600 km. It is planned to increase the number of such destroyers from eight to ten by 2027. The move is part of Japan's new national security strategy aimed at strengthening countermeasures and defense in the region, including against threats from North Korea. Japan is also investing heavily in modernizing and expanding the capabilities of its maritime defense forces based on joint technologies with the United States. This initiative reflects the deepening of military-technical cooperation between the two countries and ensuring the high combat capability of the Japanese navy in the field of missile defense and strike capabilities.

The United States has successfully tested the Aegis system against the hypersonic threat: a new stage in missile defense

 

The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA), together with the Navy, conducted successful tests of the Aegis system as part of the FTX-40 (Stellar Banshee) mission**, aimed at countering hypersonic threats. Testing, which took place on March 24, 2025 off the coast of Kauai (Hawaii), confirmed the ability of the complex to detect and intercept targets flying at speeds above Mach 5.  

During the experiment, the Aegis system integrated data from satellites and radars to track a hypersonic target. The interceptor reportedly successfully destroyed a target simulating modern enemy missiles. This is the first confirmed case of hypersonic object interception in real conditions, which makes FTX-40 a key stage in the development of a multi-level missile defense.   

Hypersonic missiles capable of maneuvering at high speeds are traditionally considered a difficult target for missile defense systems. To neutralize them, Aegis uses advanced data processing algorithms and a network of sensors, including spacecraft. As noted in the MDA reports, such tests help to adapt the system to "the most likely and dangerous threats. 

The success of the FTX-40 strengthens the US position in the arms race, where hypersonic technologies are being actively developed by China and Russia.  The Navy plans to expand the number of ships with upgraded Aegis systems, and the MDA will continue testing against more complex targets.