US Approves Potential $3.64 Billion Air-to-Air Missile Sale to Japan

(Bloomberg) -- The US approved the potential sale to Japan of air-to-air missiles produced by RTX Corp. in a deal valued at as much as $3.64 billion.

The announcement Friday underscores the countries’ long-standing alliance, even though it came the same day that President Joe Biden blocked Nippon Steel Corp.’s $14.1 billion takeover of United States Steel Corp. on national security grounds.

The State Department said in a statement that a sale would be consistent with US foreign policy and national security, and help Japan protect its homeland and US personnel stationed there.

It will also bolster “the security of a major ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific region,” it said.

The Japanese government has requested to buy as many as 1,200 AIM-120D-3 and AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles, as well as related equipment, spares and support materials, according to the statement. The missiles can be launched from aircraft including the F-15 and F-35, which Japan operates.

Japan has previously purchased earlier variants of the missiles, but this proposed sale would be the first of the D variant, according to a State Department spokesperson.

Any deal must still be negotiated between the Japanese government and the contractors, and ultimately could involve smaller quantities and a lower total value. Congress could also block the deal.