According to information published by the Japanese Press Agency Kyodo News on March 30, 2025, Japan and the United States have announced the early launch of a joint coproduction program for the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). The announcement was made during a meeting in Tokyo between U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani. The move comes in response to growing regional security challenges and aims to further strengthen the long-standing military alliance between the two countries through deeper defense industrial cooperation.
The agreement reflects the increasingly deepened U.S.-Japan defense cooperation amid a rapidly evolving regional security environment marked by China’s growing military assertiveness and North Korea’s continued development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile systems. As both nations seek to strengthen their deterrence posture, the early launch of the AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile coproduction initiative represents a major leap forward in bilateral defense industrial integration and operational readiness.
The AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile), developed by U.S. defense contractor Raytheon, is among the most capable beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missiles in service. It features active radar homing, allowing pilots to engage targets without continuous guidance after launch — a “fire-and-forget” capability that is critical in high-threat environments. The latest variant, AIM-120D, offers enhanced range exceeding 160 kilometers, improved kinematic performance, GPS-assisted mid-course navigation, and advanced electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM). These features provide reliable engagement against highly maneuverable targets, even in contested environments saturated with electronic warfare.
The missile’s compact form factor allows internal carriage on stealth aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning II, preserving low observability. AMRAAM is compatible with a wide range of platforms, including the F-15, F-16, F/A-18, and Eurofighter Typhoon, all of which are part of many allied fleets. For Japan, the missile’s integration is particularly relevant to its F-15J fleet — currently undergoing modernization — and its growing inventory of F-35A and F-35B fighter jets.
Under the new coproduction framework, Japanese defense contractors are expected to collaborate with Raytheon in the production of key components, final assembly, and system integration, supported by a technology transfer agreement. This will enhance Japan’s domestic defense manufacturing capacity and reduce reliance on overseas supply chains, ensuring sustained missile availability in times of crisis.