The United States has requested Japan to produce over 100 Patriot missiles as part of a broader strategy to address a significant shortfall in American missile supplies, according to Nikkei Asia.
First Contract Signed in August
This request marks a notable expansion of the joint production initiative between the two nations, according to Portal Obronny.
In early August, it was reported that Japan’s Ministry of Defense signed its first contract to supply Patriot PAC-3 missiles to the U.S. to replenish American stocks, some of which had been diverted to Ukraine. Japan had initially agreed to provide 10 Patriot missiles to the U.S. under this arrangement.
The move is particularly significant given Japan’s strict export controls on fully assembled defense equipment. Historically, Japan’s policy restricted the export of such equipment, limiting exports to parts and technologies produced under American licenses.
However, in December 2023, Japan relaxed these rules to allow the sale of Patriot missiles to the U.S., provided they were not directly transferred to Ukraine.
60 Missiles Per Year
U.S. Defense Department officials have indicated that the production scale desired is substantially larger than the initial 10 missiles.
William LaPlante, the U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, revealed at the 2024 Emerging Technologies for Defense conference in Washington that the goal is for Japan to produce significantly more missiles, potentially up to 10 times the original order.
Exact numbers and timelines are yet to be finalized.
Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the primary contractor for producing Patriots under license, currently manufactures about 30 missiles annually for Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force.
The company could increase this output to approximately 60 missiles per year. However, production plans face challenges due to a shortage of key components, particularly guidance heads produced by Boeing, which may delay Japan’s increased production capacity.
Lockheed Martin, a key player in missile production, expects to produce 650 Patriot missiles next year, up from 500.
