The US State Department has approved the sale of extended range Lockheed Martin AGM-158B Joint Air to Surface Strike Missiles (JASSM-ER) to Japan.
The US$104 million deal announced by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 28 August covers the potential sale of up to 50 AGM-158B/B-2 JASSM-ER weapons to the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF).
Also included in the proposed deal are JASSM Anti-Jam Global Positioning System Receivers (JAGR), training missiles, and a range of support equipment and services.
“The proposed sale will improve Japan’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing stand-off capability via advanced, long-range strike systems for employment on JASDF fighter aircraft including, but not limited to, the F-15J (Eagle),” the DSCA release notes.
Australia is also acquiring up to 80 AGM-158B/B-2 JASSM-ER missiles for the Royal Australian Air Force’s F/A-18F Super Hornet and – in the future – F-35A Lightning II fleets. The weapons will allow the RAAF and JASDF to strike surface targets at ranges up to 900 km.
Japan Air Self Defense Force F-35A Joint Strike Fighters are currently deployed to RAAF Base Tindal in the NT as part of Exercise Bushido Guardian.