On January 15, 2025, as the Defense Security Cooperation Agency reported, the U.S. Department of State approved a possible sale of Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles with Extended Range (JASSM-ER) to the Government of Japan.A notification from the agency read. “The government of Japan has requested to buy up to sixteen (16) AGM-158B/B-2 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles with Extended Range (JASSM-ER). The following non-MDE items will also be included: AGM-158 JASSM Dummy Air Training Missiles (DATM) and containers; JASSM Anti-jam Global Positioning System Receivers (JAGR); munitions support and support equipment; spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; integration and test support and equipment; classified and unclassified software delivery and support; classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation; personnel training and equipment; airlift and transportation support; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; studies and surveys; and other related elements of logistics and program support,” While the sale is not made yet, it is more or less a ‘done deal’.This high-end sale comes on the heels of Tokyo acquiring 50 JASSM-ER missiles in 2024 via a contract concluded in 2023 worth $104 million. In this video, Defense Updates analyzes why Japan acquiring the U.S. made JASSM-ER is a big headache for China ?