U.S. President Trump Announces First U.S. Missile Shipment for Japan’s F-35 Fighter Jets
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
U.S. President Donald Trump announced aboard the USS George Washington in Yokosuka that Japan will receive its first shipment of U.S.-made air-to-air missiles for F-35 fighter jets this week. The move strengthens Japan’s air defense capability and signals deepening U.S.-Japan military coordination.
According to information published by Fox News on October 28, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced aboard the USS George Washington at Yokosuka Naval Base that the first shipment of American air-to-air missiles for Japan’s F-35 fighter jets will arrive this week. Speaking before U.S. Navy sailors, Trump confirmed that deliveries of advanced U.S. weapon systems are moving ahead of schedule.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
U.S. President Donald Trump announces the first shipment of American-made air-to-air missiles for Japan’s F-35 fighter jets during remarks aboard the USS George Washington at Yokosuka Naval Base on October 28, 2025. (Picture source: Youtube video footage)
The missiles for Japan include the AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder, two of the most advanced U.S. air-to-air weapons currently in service. Both are specifically engineered for integration with fifth-generation aircraft like the F-35 Lightning II. The AIM-120D, a long-range radar-guided missile, enables Japanese pilots to engage enemy aircraft well before they are detected, while the AIM-9X adds short-range precision with its helmet-mounted targeting and extreme agility in close-in engagements.
This delivery arrives at a critical moment in Japan’s defense modernization. Tokyo is in the midst of a sweeping transformation of its combat aviation force. It is acquiring 105 F-35A conventional takeoff variants for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and up to 42 F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The F-35Bs are being prepared for deployment aboard Japan’s modified Izumo-class helicopter destroyers, which are undergoing upgrades to function as light aircraft carriers. With a combined total of 147 aircraft, Japan is poised to become the largest F-35 operator outside the United States.
From a tactical perspective, the arrival of these missiles significantly enhances the operational value of Japan’s F-35 fleet. The aircraft’s stealth, sensor fusion, and advanced networking are only fully realized when paired with high-end munitions. In scenarios involving Chinese J-20s or Russian Su-35s, the AIM-120D gives Japanese pilots the ability to strike first from beyond visual range. In close air combat over contested maritime zones like the East China Sea, the AIM-9X ensures Japanese fighters retain superiority in fast-evolving engagements.
President Trump’s visit to Yokosuka follows a strategic meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during which both leaders signed a new bilateral framework focused on cooperation on rare earth minerals. While centered on industrial resources, the agreement also reinforces defense supply chain reliability and highlights the broader convergence of economic and military objectives between the two allies.
The importance of a strong air force equipped with the latest generation of missiles is especially clear in Japan’s evolving security environment. Chinese aircraft routinely probe Japanese airspace around the Senkaku Islands, and North Korea continues to launch missiles across Japanese territory. In such an environment, speed, range, and lethality are not optional features. They are operational necessities. A fully missile-capable F-35 fleet enables Japan to respond to incursions with immediate and overwhelming force. It also acts as a powerful deterrent, reducing the risk of escalation by denying adversaries air superiority from the outset.
Beyond Japan’s borders, this development also strengthens regional collective defense. The missile-equipped F-35s will operate alongside U.S. and allied aircraft under a shared command-and-control architecture that extends from Alaska to Guam and throughout the Western Pacific. With identical munitions and communications systems, Japan’s fighters can participate in integrated patrols, joint exercises, and crisis response missions without interoperability gaps.
Tokyo’s defense strategy is also shifting structurally. Under new legislation and increased budgets, Japan is elevating defense spending above 2 percent of GDP and expanding its ability to conduct multidomain operations. The arrival of U.S. missiles reinforces these reforms by giving Japanese forces the tools to project credible deterrence, not only in defensive posture but also in forward-operating scenarios.
For military observers and defense professionals, this moment marks more than a delivery. It reflects the culmination of years of procurement, planning, and alliance-building. Japan’s F-35 squadrons, now armed with next-generation air-to-air missiles, are entering the Indo-Pacific battlespace as fully operational assets capable of shaping outcomes in potential high-intensity conflicts.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
U.S. President Donald Trump announced aboard the USS George Washington in Yokosuka that Japan will receive its first shipment of U.S.-made air-to-air missiles for F-35 fighter jets this week. The move strengthens Japan’s air defense capability and signals deepening U.S.-Japan military coordination.
According to information published by Fox News on October 28, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced aboard the USS George Washington at Yokosuka Naval Base that the first shipment of American air-to-air missiles for Japan’s F-35 fighter jets will arrive this week. Speaking before U.S. Navy sailors, Trump confirmed that deliveries of advanced U.S. weapon systems are moving ahead of schedule.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
U.S. President Donald Trump announces the first shipment of American-made air-to-air missiles for Japan’s F-35 fighter jets during remarks aboard the USS George Washington at Yokosuka Naval Base on October 28, 2025. (Picture source: Youtube video footage)
The missiles for Japan include the AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder, two of the most advanced U.S. air-to-air weapons currently in service. Both are specifically engineered for integration with fifth-generation aircraft like the F-35 Lightning II. The AIM-120D, a long-range radar-guided missile, enables Japanese pilots to engage enemy aircraft well before they are detected, while the AIM-9X adds short-range precision with its helmet-mounted targeting and extreme agility in close-in engagements.
This delivery arrives at a critical moment in Japan’s defense modernization. Tokyo is in the midst of a sweeping transformation of its combat aviation force. It is acquiring 105 F-35A conventional takeoff variants for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and up to 42 F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The F-35Bs are being prepared for deployment aboard Japan’s modified Izumo-class helicopter destroyers, which are undergoing upgrades to function as light aircraft carriers. With a combined total of 147 aircraft, Japan is poised to become the largest F-35 operator outside the United States.
From a tactical perspective, the arrival of these missiles significantly enhances the operational value of Japan’s F-35 fleet. The aircraft’s stealth, sensor fusion, and advanced networking are only fully realized when paired with high-end munitions. In scenarios involving Chinese J-20s or Russian Su-35s, the AIM-120D gives Japanese pilots the ability to strike first from beyond visual range. In close air combat over contested maritime zones like the East China Sea, the AIM-9X ensures Japanese fighters retain superiority in fast-evolving engagements.
President Trump’s visit to Yokosuka follows a strategic meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during which both leaders signed a new bilateral framework focused on cooperation on rare earth minerals. While centered on industrial resources, the agreement also reinforces defense supply chain reliability and highlights the broader convergence of economic and military objectives between the two allies.
The importance of a strong air force equipped with the latest generation of missiles is especially clear in Japan’s evolving security environment. Chinese aircraft routinely probe Japanese airspace around the Senkaku Islands, and North Korea continues to launch missiles across Japanese territory. In such an environment, speed, range, and lethality are not optional features. They are operational necessities. A fully missile-capable F-35 fleet enables Japan to respond to incursions with immediate and overwhelming force. It also acts as a powerful deterrent, reducing the risk of escalation by denying adversaries air superiority from the outset.
Beyond Japan’s borders, this development also strengthens regional collective defense. The missile-equipped F-35s will operate alongside U.S. and allied aircraft under a shared command-and-control architecture that extends from Alaska to Guam and throughout the Western Pacific. With identical munitions and communications systems, Japan’s fighters can participate in integrated patrols, joint exercises, and crisis response missions without interoperability gaps.
Tokyo’s defense strategy is also shifting structurally. Under new legislation and increased budgets, Japan is elevating defense spending above 2 percent of GDP and expanding its ability to conduct multidomain operations. The arrival of U.S. missiles reinforces these reforms by giving Japanese forces the tools to project credible deterrence, not only in defensive posture but also in forward-operating scenarios.
For military observers and defense professionals, this moment marks more than a delivery. It reflects the culmination of years of procurement, planning, and alliance-building. Japan’s F-35 squadrons, now armed with next-generation air-to-air missiles, are entering the Indo-Pacific battlespace as fully operational assets capable of shaping outcomes in potential high-intensity conflicts.
