WASHINGTON -- The U.S. has given Japan the green light to acquire up to 1,200 air-to-air missiles, cementing the defense cooperation between the two allies and paving the way for future local production of the missiles in Japan.
Sale to serve as precursor to local production of AMRAAMs

An F-35A Lightning II test aircraft fires an AIM-120 AMRAAM in the Gulf of Mexico. (U.S. Air Force)
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. has given Japan the green light to acquire up to 1,200 air-to-air missiles, cementing the defense cooperation between the two allies and paving the way for future local production of the missiles in Japan.