U.S. President Donald Trump has officially announced a significant enhancement to Japan’s air defense capabilities, confirming the first shipment of American-made air-to-air missiles for the nation’s F-35 fighter jets will arrive this week. Speaking aboard the USS George Washington in Yokosuka, the President underscored that this delivery solidifies deeper U.S.-Japan military coordination and reinforces Japan’s aerial combat strength.
According to details initially released by Fox News on October 28, 2025, Trump told U.S. Navy personnel that the delivery of advanced U.S. weapon systems is moving ahead of schedule.
The arsenal destined for Japan includes the AIM-120 AMRAAM and the AIM-9X Sidewinder, two of the most sophisticated air-to-air weapons currently in U.S. service. Both are purpose-built for seamless integration with fifth-generation platforms like the F-35 Lightning II. Specifically, the long-range, radar-guided AIM-120D will allow Japanese pilots to engage adversary aircraft well before they are detected, while the AIM-9X provides short-range precision, leveraging helmet-mounted targeting and extreme agility for close-in fights.
A Crucial Step in Fleet Modernization
This delivery is a timely development amid Tokyo’s comprehensive defense modernization drive. Japan is on track to become the largest F-35 operator outside the United States, acquiring a combined total of 147 aircraft (105 F-35A conventional variants for the Air Self-Defense Force and up to 42 F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing jets for the Maritime Self-Defense Force). The F-35Bs are slated for deployment on Japan’s modified Izumo-class destroyers, which are being upgraded to function as light aircraft carriers.
The arrival of these missiles dramatically increases the operational value of the F-35 fleet. The jet’s stealth, sensor fusion, and advanced networking capabilities can only be fully leveraged when paired with high-end munitions. In contested environments like the East China Sea, these weapons ensure Japanese forces retain first-strike capability and air superiority against rivals like China’s J-20s or Russia’s Su-35s.
President Trump’s visit to Yokosuka followed a strategic meeting with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, where the leaders signed a new bilateral agreement on rare earth minerals. While primarily focused on industrial resources, the pact also reinforces defense supply chain reliability, highlighting the strategic alignment of the two allies’ economic and military goals.
Bolstering Regional Deterrence
In a security landscape where Chinese aircraft routinely test Japanese airspace near the Senkaku Islands and North Korea continues missile launches, superior speed, range, and lethality are vital necessities for Japan. A fully missile-capable F-35 fleet enables an immediate and overwhelming response to incursions, strengthening the deterrent posture and inherently reducing the risk of escalation by denying adversaries initial air dominance.
This development also strengthens the broader regional collective defense architecture. The missile-equipped F-35s will operate under a shared command-and-control system with U.S. and allied aircraft across the Western Pacific. Identical munitions and communications systems ensure Japanese fighters can participate in integrated patrols, joint exercises, and crisis response missions without interoperability gaps.
Coupled with new legislation elevating defense spending above 2% of GDP, the arrival of U.S. missiles equips Japan’s forces with the necessary tools to project credible deterrence, not only in a defensive stance but also in forward-operating scenarios.
