The potential sale will augment Japan’s capability to assess the situational awareness of air and naval activity in the Pacific region.

As per a statement by the U.S. State Department, the potential sale of upto 9 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft have been approved for Japan.

The estimated cost of the 9 E-2Ds are $3.135 billion, said the Pentagon.

Japan would use the aircraft to provide “situational awareness of air and naval activity in the Pacific region” and augment its existing E-2C Hawkeye fleet, said the Pentagon in a statement.

A unit of Northrop Grumman Corp will be the principal contractor for the 9 E-2Ds aircraft.