On January 29, the U.S. State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Japan for two Aegis Weapon Systems (AWS) and related missile defense equipment, including two Multi-Mission Signal Processors (MMSP) and two Command and Control Processor (C2P) Refreshes. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the proposed sale and released a statement explaining the United States’ commitment to Japan as a “major ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Asia-Pacific region.”