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The US State Department has approved a US$39 million (AU$62.5 million) foreign military sale to Japan for Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles-Extended Range (JASSM-ER).
As part of the deal, the government of Japan has requested to purchase up to 16 AGM-158B/B-2 JASSM-ER, which will also include AGM-158 JASSM Dummy Air Training Missiles and containers; JASSM Anti-jam Global Positioning System Receivers; munitions support and support equipment; spare parts, consumables, and accessories; repair and return support; integration and test support and equipment; classified and unclassified software delivery and support.
The US government release stated, “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 Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) fighter aircraft, including but not limited to the F-15J and F-35A/B. Japan will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”
This latest order comes following the acquisition of 50 JASSM-ER as part of a US$104 million (AU$167 million) order in mid-2023 for the JASDF that would also equip the country’s F-15J fleet.
Australia acquired its first suite of the Lockheed Martin manufactured JASSM-ER in July 2022 as part of a US$235 million (AU$377.1 million) foreign military sale that included 80 JASSM-ER missiles (AGM-158B with telemetry kits and/or AGM-158B-2 configurations) along with JASSM training missiles, missile containers and support equipment.
In June 2022, Lockheed Martin opened a new 225,000 square-foot manufacturing facility, which includes a fully robotic paint line, increased automation in testing processes, and dynamic factory modelling for future production forecasting.
This facility, alongside the existing production line, allows the workforce to produce JASSM systems more quickly and cost-effectively.
