United States Approves Sales Of JASSM-ER Long-Range Missiles For Japan

AGM-158 JASSM. (Wikimedia Commons/US Air Force)

JAKARTA - The United States government approved a potential sale of air missiles to the surface and related equipment to Japan worth 104 million US dollars or around Rp. 1,586,582,400,000, the US State Department said.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of plans for the sale of the long-range missile also known as AGM-158B JASSM-ER (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range) the day before.

The Japanese government has asked to buy up to 50 missiles, the agency said, as reported by Kyodo News, August 29.

The proposed sale will help the United States improve the security of key allies who are forces for political stability and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific region, the agency continued.

The plan is that the missiles will be installed on Japanese Air Force F-15 fighter jets and other fighter jets, he said in a statement, noting the plan will not change the basic military balance in the region, or have a negative impact on US defense readiness.

AGM-158B JASSM-ER is a missile that can be launched from outside enemy firing range. This missile has a range of more than 900 kilometers. The predecessor of this missile is AGM-158 JASSM.

This is the first time its potential sale to Japan has been approved, as quoted by NHK.

In facing the serious security challenges posed by China and North Korea, the Japanese government renewed its defense policy last year, pledging to acquire so-called counter-attack capabilities, or enemy base attacks, in major policy changes.

As part of these efforts, Japan has become more active in obtaining and developing long-range missiles.