Japan will this week pick a U.S.-made advanced radar for its multibillion-dollar missile-defense system, an upgrade that could help ease trade friction with Washington and provide cutting-edge protection against the arsenals of North Korea and China, sources said.
"Aegis will be a big-ticket purchase; it will be a nice gift for President Trump," a Japanese government official said, referring to the ground-based Aegis Ashore system.
Japanese officials could make their radar choice as early as Monday for two Aegis Ashore batteries it wants to deploy in 2023. That means the purchase can be added to a defense budget proposal slated for release in August, according to three sources with knowledge of the plan who declined to be identified because they are not authorized to speak to the media.