Japan has requested to acquire 1,200 new AIM-120C-8/D-3 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs), the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 2 January.
The proposed deal is worth a total estimated cost of US$3.64 billion and has been approved by the US Department of State.
The DSCA noted that the potential sale to Japan also includes up to 20 AIM-120D-3 guidance sections, including precise positioning provided by either Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module or M-Code, and up to four AIM-120C-8 guidance sections as well as ancillary equipment such as AMRAAM propulsion sections, AIM-120 Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs), missile containers, and control section spares.
The AIM-120D-3 is an enhanced version of the AMRAAM developed under the form, fit, function refresh (F3R) programme to address obsolescence in the baseline AIM-120D’s guidance section and uses model-based systems engineering initiatives and other digital technologies and new software to enhance overall performance.
The announcement did not state whether some or all of the new AMRAAMs sought would be delivered from the United States by RTX Corporation or locally manufactured in Japan.
Tokyo earlier agreed to provide industrial support to the United States by participating in co-production of the AMRAAM and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles.
“The Ministers welcomed high-priority efforts to pursue mutually beneficial co-production opportunities to expand production capacity of [AMRAAM] and Patriot PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) and meet critical demand for such advanced systems, address timely procurement and readiness requirements, and deter aggression,” the US Department of Defense (DoD) said in a July 2024 statement.
According to the DoD statement, the effort will be led by the US-Japan Forum on Defense Industrial Cooperation, Acquisition, and Sustainment (DICAS). DICAS’ initial will focus on advancing missile co-production efforts as well as building supply chain resilience and facilitating ship and aircraft repair.
It is understood that Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) will manufacture the missiles under license. According to news wire Reuters, MHI is already manufacturing Patriot PAC-3s at a reported rate of about 30 missiles annually but can increase production to 60. However, AMRAAMs will be a new endeavour for the company.
by Jr Ng
