Japan secures advanced U.S. cruise missiles for regional stability
Japan has requested to purchase more AGM-158B JASSM-ER cruise missiles from the American government, and this request has been approved. Here, we explore what exactly the Land of the Rising Sun will receive.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) of the Pentagon announced the approval for a potential sale to Japan for a maximum of $39 (CAD 56) million. This sale includes 16 AGM-158B JASSM-ER cruise missiles, AGM-158 JASSM Dummy Air Training Missiles (DATM), containers, and receivers for the JASSM Anti-jam Global Positioning System (JAGR), as well as a logistics package that includes training and spare parts.
It's important to note that the final contract value is typically lower than the approved maximum amount. The manufacturer will be Lockheed Martin, with their facilities located in Orlando, Florida. Delivering these missiles represents a significant enhancement for Japan, the main ally contributing to political stability and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific region. This follows a previous purchase in August 2023, when Japan acquired 50 missiles for $104 (CAD 150) million.
AGM-158B JASSM-ER cruise missiles - a weapon of significant importance
The AGM-158B JASSM-ER cruise missiles were added to the USAF arsenal in 2014 as an improvement over the earlier AGM-158 JASSM missiles. The main enhancement was extending the range to nearly 1,000 km while using the same body.
Comparable to other missiles such as the TAURUS KEPD 350 or the Storm Shadow, both the JASSM and its ER version are designed with stealth technology, featuring identical dimensions: a length of 4 metres, a wingspan of 3 metres, and a weight exceeding 900 kg. These missiles are designed for launch from aircraft, and in the case of Japanese aviation, their carriers are F-15Js.
The difference between the JASSM versions lies in the increased fuel capacity and a more efficient engine in the ER version. Both types of missiles are equipped with the same warhead, a penetrative WDU-42/B weighing 430 kg, which can explode upon impact with the target, with delay, or in the air, dispersing deadly fragments over a significant area.
The precise arrival of the warhead at the target, with an accuracy of less than 3 metres, is ensured by a navigation system using both satellite and inertial navigation together. This system is supported in the final phase by an optoelectronic head with a fourth-generation infrared sensor that detects the thermal image of the target. As a result, a highly effective system has emerged, posing a challenge even to countries with modern air defence systems.
