US and Japan Agree to Establish AIM-120 AMRAAM Facility in Japan

Bilateral Agreement for Defence Production

The United States and Japan have reached an agreement to establish a final assembly and checkout (FACO) facility for AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) within Japan. According to official reports, the development stems from discussions between Japanese Defence Minister Shinjirō Koizumi and US officials on 28 October during the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus held in the Philippines.

Officials stated that the initiative aims to bolster bilateral defence cooperation and secure equipment supplies for both nations. Japanese representatives highlighted that the missiles are vital for F-35 operations and form a key component of Operation ‘Supercharge’, a joint initiative focused on strengthening defence equipment and technology collaboration.

Key Aspects of the Agreement

• Facility Type: A final assembly and checkout (FACO) plant for AIM-120 AMRAAMs.
• Strategic Context: Part of ongoing efforts to reinforce Japan's defence industry base and secure regional equipment stocks.
• Broader Framework: Complements a framework agreement between RTX subsidiary Raytheon and the US Department of War aimed at scaling up annual AMRAAM production.

Background and Outlook

The announcement follows more than two years of bilateral discussions regarding missile co-production, which initially gained momentum in 2024. A feasibility study conducted earlier with support from Mitsubishi Electric and Raytheon explored the establishment of the FACO facility and the potential expansion of co-production to encompass circuit card assemblies.

While the agreement marks a significant step in defence industrial cooperation, specific details regarding the facility's exact location, timeline, and final investment figures have not been publicly disclosed by officials. Observers can verify the original announcements through official publications from the Japanese Ministry of Defence and relevant defence intelligence databases.