The US Department of State has approved a possible USD317 million Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Japan of a further batch of Raytheon AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) along with related equipment and services, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a 17 May statement.
The US DSCA announced on 17 May that the US State Department has approved the sale of an additional 160 AIM-120C-7 AMRAAMs to Japan. ((US Air Force))
Tokyo had requested to buy up to 160 additional AIM-120C-7 missiles and one AIM-120C-7 guidance section. Also included in the proposed sale are containers, weapon support and support equipment, spare and repair parts, US government and contractor engineering, technical and logistical support services, and other related elements of logistical and programme support.
The proposed sale, which still needs to be approved by the US Congress, is aimed to provide Japan with “a critical air-defence capability to assist in defending the Japanese homeland and US personnel stationed there”, said the DSCA, adding that the move “will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a major ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Asia-Pacific region”.
The prime contractor would be Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Arizona, said the DSCA, adding that there are no known offset arrangements proposed in connection with the potential sale.
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) already fields the AIM-120C-7, having been cleared to receive its first batch of 17 missiles for USD33 million in 2014. Moreover, in October 2017 the US State Department also approved a USD113 million sale to Japan of 56 AIM-120C-7s, and in November 2018 it approved the sale of an additional 32 AIM-120C-7s worth up to USD63 million.
Looking to read the full article?
Gain unlimited access to Janes news and more...
