Japan pushes ahead with its ambitious rearmament plans (-> Japan increases its defense spending by 10 percent): The US State Department has now given the green light for the possible sale of AIM-120D-3 and AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and associated equipment to the Japanese government. The estimated total value of the sale is up to 3.55 billion euros.
The Japanese government had previously submitted a request for up to 1,200 AIM-120 (D-3/C-8) Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM). Tokyo’s wish list also includes up to 20 AIM-120D-3 control units and up to four AIM-120C-8 control units. In detail, the request includes AMRAAM propulsion sections, warheads, AIM-120 Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM), missile containers and spare parts for the control units; Common Munitions Built-in Test (BIT) Reprogramming Equipment (CMBRE) and ADU-891 Adaptor Group Test Sets, various spare and repair parts, consumables and other accessories. https://militaeraktuell.at/internationale-einsaetze-plant-bundesheer-2025/ According to a recent Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) release, “The proposed sale will enhance Japan’s ability to counter current and future threats by defending its homeland and U.S. personnel stationed there. Japan will have no difficulty integrating these items and services into its armed forces.” Following approval by the US State Department, the ball is now back in the Japanese government’s court: it must place its final order within the approved framework. This can also be below the approved maximum scope. Whether the missiles will all be supplied from the USA or whether some of them will be produced in the country has not yet been decided. Tokyo and Washington have been preparing a study for some time now to examine the feasibility of joint production in Japan.
