US Approves $3.6b Missile Sale To Japan

Islamabad: The United States on Friday announced the approval of a $3.6 billion sale of up to 1,200 advanced air-to-air missiles and related equipment to Japan, one of Washington’s closest allies in Asia.

According to AFP, Tokyo aims to boost security ties with the United States and other countries.

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific region,” the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement.

“The proposed sale will improve Japan’s capability to meet current and future threats by defending its homeland and US personnel stationed there,” it said, adding that “Japan will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives.” – US Defense Security Cooperation Agency

The State Department approved the possible sale and the DSCA on Friday provided the required notification to Congress, which still needs to sign off on the transaction.

A Type 12 surface-to-ship missile launcher unit is displayed for military service members from 18 countries on the sidelines of the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium 2022 (PALS 22), at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Camp Kisarazu in Chiba prefecture on 16 June 2022. —Photo by AFP

Bloomberg reported that RTX Corp produced the air-to-air missiles.

The announcement came the same day that President Joe Biden blocked Nippon Steel Corp.’s $14.1 billion takeover of United States Steel Corp. on national security grounds.

Previous arms deal

Last year, the Biden administration notified Congress that it approved the potential sale to Japan of over $100 million in air-to-surface missiles, Anadolu Agency reported.

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Manabu Sakai said that Tokyo filed a request with Washington over the ‘East Sea’ reference the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command made when it announced Pyongyang launched missiles Mar 25, 2021
—Photo by AFP

It included up to 50 AGM-158B/B-2 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles with Extended Range, JASSM Anti-jam Global Positioning System Receivers (JAGR), training missiles, and missile containers; munitions support and support equipment; spare parts, consumables, accessories, according to the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).

japan — Fumio Kishida, second from left, walks past a Type 19 155mm howitzer, left, and a Type 12 surface-to-ship missile, right in Tokyo on Nov. 27, 2021. —Photo by AFP

The Pentagon agency said that the sale would include repair support, integration equipment, classified and unclassified software delivery and support and transportation support.