General Dynamics : U.S. State Department approves possible $2.1 billion sale of Aegis system to Japan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department has approved a possible sale to Japan of two Lockheed Martin-made AEGIS Weapon Systems and related missile defence equipment for an estimated cost of up to $2.15 billion, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.

Last year, Japan picked Lockheed to build a powerful new $1.2 billion radar meant to guard against North Korean missile strikes.

The Pentagon's Defence Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the possible sale on Tuesday.

The AEGIS weapons system approval also included approval for a related command and control processor refresh that will be done by General Dynamics Corp the Pentagon said.

(Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by Richard Chang)

By Mike Stone

Stocks treated in this article : General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin Corporation