A Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile with Extended Range, or JASSM-ER, is released from an F-16 during testing over the Gulf of Mexico, Sept. 19, 2018. (Michael Jackson/U.S. Air Force)
TOKYO — The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of $104 million in extended-range, air-to-surface missiles and related gear to Japan, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced this week.
Japan wants to buy 50 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles with Extended Range, or JASSM-ER, from manufacturer Lockheed Martin, along with anti-jam receivers, training missiles, containers, spare parts and other equipment, the agency said in a statement Monday.
The JASSM-ER, which the U.S. Air Force plans to field across its B-2 Spirit stealth bomber fleet, has a range of about 600 miles, more than double that of the baseline JASSM, which can fly up to 250 miles, Lockheed states on its website.
"The Ministry of Defense welcomes this as it contributes to strengthening of our country's stand-off defense capabilities," Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said at a press conference Tuesday.
The ministry has allocated about $87 million for the missiles this fiscal year and has been coordinating with the U.S. government, he said.
Japan’s defense budget, which totals about $51.4 billion this fiscal year, is the nation’s largest ever and includes $1.59 billion to acquire U.S. Tomahawk missiles and $963 million to develop and manufacture improved surface-to-ship guided missiles.
The JASSM-ER sale would encompass training, software, technical documents and logistical, engineering and program support, the U.S. agency said in its statement.
“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 statement said.
The missiles will provide long-range strike capability for Japanese fighters, including but not limited to the F-15J Eagle, the agency said.
“Japan will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces,” the statement said.
