Japan to spend $224 million on advanced air missiles from US
The AIM-120 AMRAAM, jointly developed by the US Air Force and the US Navy, has seen extensive export sales. (Photo: US DoD)
The US has greenlit a potential Foreign Military Sale of more than 100 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to Japan.
The US has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Japan for AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) for an estimated cost of US$224 million.
Japan recently requested the batch of 120 AMRAAMs and three guidance sections, as well as training missiles, missile containers and related equipment. The deal has followed the purchase of 160 AIM-120C-7 missiles Japan ordered in 2019 under an estimated $317 million contract.
If approved by the US Congress, Raytheon (RTX Corporation) will take principal contractor responsibilities for the order as the manufacturer of the missile.
AMRAAM was jointly developed by the US Air Force and the US Navy as a follow-on to the AIM-7 Sparrow, but it has seen extensive export sales and also has ground-to-air applications. It has been procured by 40 countries outside the US and has been integrated into most F-15 models, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the F/A-18 Super Hornet, F-22 Raptor, Eurofighter Typhoon, JAS-39 Gripen, Tornado and Harrier fighter jets.
The latest version of AMRAAM is operational on all F-35 Joint Strike Fighter variants as the only radar-guided, air-to-air missile cleared to fly on the fighter.
The AIM-120B is an upgraded, reprogrammable variant of the original missile, whereas the AIM-120C incorporates smaller control surfaces for internal carriage on F-22 and F-35 and a high-angle off-boresight (HOBS) launch capability. AIM-120D offers improved range, GPS-assisted guidance, updated data links and jam resistance, in addition to greater lethality.
AMRAAM is small, fast and light and is said to have improved capabilities against very-low and high-altitude high-speed targets in an electronic attack (EA) environment as compared to previously fielded radar-guided missiles.
As a fire-and-forget missile, it has replaced the AIM-7 Sparrow as the US military’s standard beyond-visual-range intercept missile. The missile has undergone various service life improvements.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Bayraktar TB2: The $4.11 billion market success of a cost-effective MALE UAV]()
Bayraktar TB2: The $4.11 billion market success of a cost-effective MALE UAV
The success of the Bayraktar TB2 stems from it fulfilling a niche of providing reasonable capabilities at a low cost, leading to its acquisition by more than 30 countries including many in Africa; but there are reasons to be cautious about its potential future prospects.
-
![Anduril awarded latest OPF-L contract with around $155.2 million still up for grabs]()
Anduril awarded latest OPF-L contract with around $155.2 million still up for grabs
As the US Marine Corps continues to push loitering munitions as a core battlefield tool, Shephard looks at how the latest contract award factors into future potential purchases.
-
![GA-ASI makes strides with further MQ-20 intercept test success]()
GA-ASI makes strides with further MQ-20 intercept test success
The latest test of advanced autonomy development focused on human-machine teaming, loading a mission profile onto the platform.
-
![Edge and Indra to form manufacturing entity to meet European loitering munition demand]()
Edge and Indra to form manufacturing entity to meet European loitering munition demand
Once approved by shareholders, the newly established manufacturing company will be developed in Spain and will look to address the burgeoning demand for loitering munitions from Spain and the rest of Europe.
