U.S. and Japan Agree on AIM-120 AMRAAM Missile Assembly Facility to Support Fighter Supply in Japan.

The United States and Japan have agreed to establish a final assembly and inspection facility in Japan for AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, advancing industrial cooperation to support both countries’ fighter forces. Announced on the sidelines of a regional security summit, the facility could strengthen missile supply for aircraft including the F-35, although its production timetable and additional annual output remain undisclosed.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jordon Gonzales and Airman 1st Class Lukas Pollock, aircraft armament systems specialists with the Ohio National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing, prepare the fins of an AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile mounted on an F-16 Fighting Falcon before a training flight in Swanton, Ohio, on September 29, 2026. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War/Defense)

Japan secures agreement for AIM-120 missile assembly and inspection

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced the agreement on October 28, 2026, following talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the Philippines. Speaking at a press conference in Cebu, Koizumi said the partners agreed to establish an AIM-120 AMRAAM final-assembly and inspection facility under Operation Supercharge, their initiative to accelerate bilateral defense equipment and technology cooperation.

The decision advances earlier work on possible Japanese participation in AMRAAM production. In October 2024, the two governments were examining industrial challenges, lead times, and potential manufacturing activities through a feasibility study. By April 2026, they had identified circuit card assembly as part of the coproduction scope, while continuing discussions on a Japanese Final Assembly and Check-Out facility, or FACO.

The latest agreement commits the partners to establishing that facility. Its location, construction schedule, detailed industrial workshare and expected annual output were not disclosed. The announcement also did not identify which AIM-120 variant would be assembled or how the U.S. and Japanese requirements would allocate completed missiles.

AMRAAM replenishment matters across the U.S. fighter fleet

AMRAAM equips U.S. F-35, F-22, F-15 and F-16 fighters, making its availability relevant across both stealth and conventional combat aircraft. Sustaining those forces requires missiles for deployed units, training, follow-on operations, and replacement of weapons expended in combat.

An additional qualified assembly and inspection facility in Japan could broaden the industrial resources available to meet those requirements. During a prolonged Indo-Pacific confrontation, that capacity could help sustain replenishment for U.S. and Japanese fighter forces. The scale of the benefit would depend on component availability, production rates, and how completed missiles are allocated.

Final assembly capacity alone does not establish an independent missile supply chain. The facility would require trained personnel, inspection equipment, approved manufacturing processes, and a reliable flow of components. The announcement did not explain which components would be manufactured in Japan or how dependent the facility would remain on shared suppliers.

The immediate development is therefore an agreed industrial undertaking, with no demonstrated increase in available missile inventories. Its contribution to combat readiness will become measurable when production capacity, delivery schedules and Japan’s manufacturing contribution are defined.

AIM-120 provides radar-guided engagements beyond visual range

The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile gives U.S. and allied fighters an all-weather capability to engage airborne targets beyond visual range. It combines inertial guidance and in-flight targeting updates with an active radar seeker for terminal interception, reducing dependence on continuous guidance from the launching aircraft.

The solid-fuel missile measures about 12 feet long and 7 inches in diameter and carries a blast-fragmentation warhead. Weight and configuration vary across the AMRAAM family, while engagement reach depends on the missile version and launch conditions.

Japan’s announcement did not specify a production variant. It therefore provides no basis for assigning the proposed facility the performance characteristics or software configuration of a particular AIM-120 model. For F-35 and other fighter operators, the agreement’s main significance is its potential to improve missile availability.

SM-3 Block IIA cooperation accompanies the AMRAAM decision

Koizumi also announced an agreement to share the technical information needed to expand SM-3 Block IIA interceptor production. This separate measure, also pursued under Operation Supercharge, addresses ballistic missile defense requirements alongside the air-to-air missile initiative.

The October announcement did not quantify the additional interceptor output attributable to the information-sharing agreement or provide a delivery schedule. Both decisions advance U.S.-Japanese missile industrial cooperation, but their operational value will depend on implementation and deliveries to the forces they are intended to support.

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Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.