The State Department has approved the possible FMS, worth a staggering $3.64 billion, which will provide the Japan Air Self Defense Force with up to 1,200 AMRAAMs to be used by its fighters.
The U.S. State Department has approved a possible FMS (Foreign Military Sale) of AIM-120D-3 and AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles) and related equipment to Japan. The FMS is estimated to be worth a staggering $3.64 billion, and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of this possible sale on Jan. 2, 2025.
Japan’s government has submitted a request to purchase up to 1,200 AIM-120 AMRAAMs in both the C-8 and D-3 variants, along with associated equipment and services. Additionally, the request also includes up to 20 AIM-120D-3 guidance sections with advanced navigation features such as SAASM (Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module) or M-Code precision positioning, and up to 4 AIM-120C-8 guidance sections.
The request also extends to non-MDE (non-Major Defense Equipment) items, including the AMRAAMs’ propulsion systems, warheads, AIM-120 CATMs (Captive Air Training Missiles), missile containers, and spare control sections. Additionally, it includes CMBRE (Common Munitions Built-in Test Reprogramming Equipment), ADU-891 Adaptor Group Test Sets, munitions support equipment, spare and repair parts, consumables, accessories, and repair and return services.
This new FMS comes almost exactly two years after the approval of a separate purchase of AIM-120C-8s by Japan, which took place back in Dec. 2023. That contract had an estimated cost of $224 million and involved a tender for 120 AIM-120C-8s, alongside three guidance sections and the aforementioned MDEs.
The move will strengthen Japan’s deterrence against threats in the East Asian region, such as North Korea, Russia and China. Furthermore, in DSCA’s statement, the US government said that the FMS “will improve Japan’s capability to meet current and future threats by defending its homeland and U.S. personnel stationed there.”
AAMs in JASDF Service
If the FMS goes through, the JSDF (Japan Self Defense Force)’s air branch, the JASDF (Japan Air Self Defense Force), will be equipping their fighter jets with the new AMRAAMs. The JASDF currently operates the Mitsubishi F-15J/DJ Eagle, Mitsubishi F-2A/B and Lockheed Martin F-35A as its fighters, with the F-35B also on order and soon to be delivered.
The JASDF’s fighter fleets are equipped with both domestically produced and internationally sourced AAM (Air to Air Missiles). Among the indigenous designs, the Mitsubishi AAM-3 and newer AAM-5 serve as short-range missiles, boasting infrared homing capabilities for high maneuverability in close combat scenarios. For beyond-visual-range engagements, the AAM-4 series, equipped with active radar guidance and advanced data-link systems, provides exceptional precision and range.
The AMRAAM
The AMRAAM is one of the world’s most sophisticated and proven air-to-air missiles, with over 15 kills in combat environments, including in Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo, India, and Syria. AMRAAM has an all-weather, BVR (beyond-visual-range), multiple-launch fire-and-forget capability, which allows pilots to launch the missile without the need for manual tracking post-launch.
The weapon is compatible with a multitude of aircraft, including the F-4, F-15, F-16 (of which a D model achieved the first ever AMRAAM kill in Iraq), F/A-18, F-22, F-35, AV-8B, Eurofighter Typhoon, JAS-39 Gripen, and Panavia Tornado, among other aircraft, and is in service with more than 40 nations worldwide.
Since its birth the AMRAAM has been constantly upgraded, with A, B, C and now D variants being produced. Of these, the AIM-120C-5 and above have an improved HOBs (High Off Bore-Sight) capability which improves its G overload and the seeker’s field of view. The AIM-120C-8, which is involved in this massive sale, was first flight testes in 2023.
The weapon was developed under the Form, Fit, Function (F3R) refresh, which updates both the missile’s hardware and allows for future Agile software upgrades, says RTX. Under the F3R program, engineers used model-based systems engineering initiatives and other digital technologies to upgrade multiple circuit cards and advanced processors in the guidance section of the missile and to re-host legacy software in the AIM-120D-3 and AIM-120C-8 AMRAAMs.
The AIM-120C-8 was intended as the latest international variant of AMRAAM, when the D-3 variant was still a U.S.-only weapon. Testing on this variant started as soon as the test campaign for the D-3 was completed.
The AIM-120D is a further upgrade of the AIM-120C variant with improvements in almost all areas, including 50% greater range than the already-extended range AIM-120C-7 (in service since 2008), and better guidance over its entire flight envelope. and achieved IOC (Initial Operational Capability) with the U.S. military in 2015.
