Japan Completes Delivery of Missiles to the US for Patriot Air Defense System

Japanese Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara has announced the completion of the supply of Japanese-made Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles to the United States.

This was reported by NHK.

This is the first such transfer after the easing of restrictions on arms exports, which allows Japan to supply lethal weapons to allies that have licensed its production.

According to Kihara, the transfer of missiles belonging to the Japan Air Self-Defense Forces was made to replenish American stockpiles that were depleted due to support from other countries, primarily Ukraine.

The Japanese government has confirmed that the missiles will not be transferred to third countries, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, where U.S. forces are deployed.

The export of PAC-3 missiles to the United States marks a historic shift in Japanese defense policy, which has traditionally limited the supply of lethal weapons.

According to the amendments, the government allowed the export of weapons to a certain category of countries that have sold Japanese companies the relevant documentation for licensed production.

In addition, Japan is currently the only foreign manufacturer of missiles for the Patriot air defense system used by the Japan Air Self-Defense Forces.

As a reminder, a specific agreement on Patriot was signed in July 2024 at the request of the United States, when Japan agreed to export missiles manufactured by Mitsubishi under license from the American company Lockheed Martin.

Also in July 2024, it was reported that the United States and Japan would increase the production of MIM-104 missiles for Patriot air defense systems.

As more and more countries are now in need of American air defense systems, and even more need missiles for them, Japan and the United States will unite to implement their own plan.

Militarnyi has reported previously  that in addition to missiles for Patriot air defense systems, Japan will help the United States produce AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles due to a significant increase in demand for them.