Japan to purchase AMRAAM missiles from United States

Oct. 5 (UPI) -- A potential sale by the United States of AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles to Japan has won State Department approval.

Notice of the State Department finding was transmitted Wednesday to Congress by the U.S. Defense Security Agency, which manages the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program.

"The proposed sale will provide Japan a critical air defense capability to assist in defending the Japanese homeland and U.S. personnel stationed there," the agency said. "Japan will have no difficulty absorbing these additional munitions into the Japan Air Self-Defense Force."

The proposed sale to Japan, worth $113 million, covers 56 missiles, plus missile containers, weapon support and support equipment, spare and repair parts nd logistics services.

The principal contractor for the deal would be Raytheon Missile Systems.