Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has confirmed it will enter detailed negotiations with RTX’s Raytheon business to establish a framework for Japanese co-production of the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), marking a significant step forward in US-Japan defence industrial integration. The initiative follows the fourth session of the Japan–US Defense Industrial Cooperation, Acquisition, and Sustainment Regular Consultations (DICAS 2.0) held on 14 April, which expanded the scope of Japan’s participation in AMRAAM manufacturing. Mitsubishi Electric, which has been conducting feasibility studies for Japan’s Ministry of Defense since 2024, will initially focus on producing circuit card assemblies (CCA), with potential future expansion to Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) activities in Japan. “This collaboration will strengthen the Japan–US defence industrial base by exploring co-production of the AMRAAM, which is currently manufactured solely in the United States,” Mitsubishi Electric stated. The company added that bilateral efforts are accelerating to meet rising demand for the missile amid ongoing regional security challenges.
The AIM-120 AMRAAM is a combat-proven, all-weather, beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed as the successor to the AIM-7 Sparrow. It entered service in 1991 and has become the primary BVR weapon for the US Air Force, US Navy, and numerous allied forces, including Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force. The missile measures 12 ft (3.66 m) in length, 7 in (17.8 cm) in diameter, and has a launch weight of approximately 335–358 lb (152–162 kg). Powered by a high-performance solid-propellant rocket motor, it can reach speeds of Mach 4 or greater. Depending on the variant, the AMRAAM offers a range exceeding 40 nautical miles for earlier models, with the current AIM-120D extending kinematic performance to between 70 and 86 nautical miles, supported by recent software and hardware upgrades. It uses inertial navigation with mid-course datalink updates and two-way communications, switching to active radar terminal homing for true fire-and-forget capability. This allows the launching aircraft to engage multiple targets simultaneously and manoeuvre freely after launch. The missile features a high-explosive blast-fragmentation warhead of roughly 40–51 lb and incorporates look-down/shoot-down capability along with strong resistance to electronic countermeasures. Later variants also include GPS-aided navigation and enhanced jam resistance.
The AMRAAM family includes the AIM-120C series, optimised with reduced wingspan for internal carriage on fifth-generation fighters such as the F-22 and F-35, and the current production standard AIM-120D, which provides greater range, improved datalinks, and higher lethality. The missile equips a wide range of platforms, including Japan’s F-15J, F-2, and F-35A fighters, and is also compatible with ground-launched systems such as NASAMS. It has recorded multiple air-to-air victories in actual combat. Co-production is expected to significantly increase overall manufacturing capacity at a time when Raytheon is already expanding output to satisfy large US and allied orders. The programme builds on earlier 2024–2025 discussions concerning both AMRAAM and Patriot PAC-3 systems, driven by the urgent need to replenish stockpiles amid heightened tensions in the Indo-Pacific. Analysts regard the partnership as an important element of integrated deterrence strategy, combining US missile technology with Japan’s advanced electronics and precision manufacturing expertise. Specific details regarding contract value, technology transfer, production timelines, and volumes have not yet been disclosed, but further announcements are anticipated as government-to-government and industry-level negotiations continue.
