Japan air force seeks AARGM-ER for F-35 fleet

Japan's Air Self-Defense Force included procurement of the AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range in its fiscal 2027 budget request for the F-35 fleet. AARGM-ER is designed to engage air-defence emitters at greater range and uses a multimode seeker to prosecute targets that shut down, move or employ countermeasures. The request starts the funding and acquisition process, but Japan has not disclosed the planned missile quantity, programme value, delivery schedule or timetable for operational integration on its F-35As and F-35Bs.