U.S. Clears Munitions sale for Japan’s Fighter Jets

The State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Japan involving air-launched munitions and related support equipment valued at an estimated $82 million.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said it has delivered the required certification notifying Congress of the proposed transfer.

According to the notification, Japan has requested up to twenty-eight GBU-53 Small Diameter Bombs-Increment II all-up-rounds, which will be added to an existing case that previously fell below the congressional notification threshold. The original case was valued at $81.04 million, including $14.81 million in major defense equipment.

This new notification covers a combined total of up to one hundred twenty GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs-Increment I; twenty-eight GBU-53 SDB-IIs; thirty KMU-556 Joint Direct Attack Munition tail kits for the GBU-31; twenty KMU-559 tail kits for the GBU-32; twenty-four KMU-572 tail kits for the GBU-38; twenty-four MK-82 500-pound general purpose bombs; thirty MK-84 2,000-pound general purpose bombs; and twenty-one BLU-110 1,000-pound general purpose bombs.

These weapons are intended for integration on Japan’s fighter aircraft—specifically its F-35 Lightning II and upgraded F-15J fleets.

According to the DSCA release, the package provides stand-off strike capability suited for these platforms, which Japan is modernizing as part of its broader airpower plan.

The proposed sale also includes non-major defense equipment such as FMU-139 joint programmable fuzes, DSU-38 laser sensors, practice bombs and components, weapon support equipment, training aids, spare parts, consumables, repair and return services, classified software delivery, publications, technical documentation, transportation support, studies, surveys, and U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics assistance.

According to the notification, “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific region.” The release also said the transfer “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 fighter aircraft.” DSCA added that Japan “will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”

The agency said the sale “will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”

The principal contractors for the program will be The Boeing Company and RTX Corporation, both headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. DSCA said it is not aware of any offset arrangements at this stage, explaining that “any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.”