The two allies will establish a final assembly and inspection facility for AMRAAM air-to-air missiles in Japan under their Operation Supercharge initiative….reports Asian Lite News Desk
The United States and Japan have agreed to establish a facility in Japan for the final assembly and inspection of AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, strengthening defence manufacturing cooperation between the two allies. The agreement, announced during a meeting of their defence ministers in the Philippines, is part of a wider initiative to accelerate joint missile production in the Indo-Pacific.
Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced the agreement after meeting US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Cebu on Wednesday.
“We finally reached an agreement on the establishment of a final assembly and inspection facility in Japan for the AMRAAM air-to-air missile, which is essential for the F-35,” Koizumi said.
“This is a groundbreaking agreement that will not only ensure the acquisition of equipment needed by both Japan and the United States, but will also strengthen Japan’s defense industry base.”
The two countries also agreed to share technical information required to increase production of the SM-3 Block IIA, a ship-based ballistic missile interceptor jointly developed by Washington and Tokyo.
Both agreements fall under ‘Operation Supercharge’, an initiative proposed by Koizumi during his meeting with Hegseth in Singapore on 30 May. The programme aims to accelerate bilateral cooperation in the co-development and co-production of missiles, including the AMRAAM and SM-3 Block IIA.
According to Japan’s Ministry of Defence, the initiative is intended to strengthen allied defence manufacturing capabilities and improve access to critical military equipment.
The Pentagon’s account of Wednesday’s meeting did not specifically mention the planned AMRAAM assembly facility. However, it said Hegseth welcomed Japan’s efforts to expand its defence industrial capacity and that both sides had committed to continued coordination on the production of critical munitions.
The discussions also covered increased defence investment, expanded access and military presence, realistic training involving live-fire exercises, and distributed operations aimed at strengthening defence along the First Island Chain.
Koizumi did not disclose the Japanese industrial partner involved in the project, the proposed location of the facility, its construction timeline or expected production capacity.
The AMRAAM, manufactured by Raytheon, a subsidiary of US defence company RTX, is an advanced air-to-air missile used by fighter aircraft, including the F-35. It is also deployed in ground-based air defence systems.
In September, the Pentagon awarded Raytheon a multiyear AMRAAM contract worth up to $20.7 billion. An earlier framework agreement had called for annual production of at least 1,900 missiles.
The proposed Japanese facility would mark another step in Washington’s efforts to expand joint defence production with regional allies amid growing concerns over China’s military expansion in the Indo-Pacific.
During their May meeting, Koizumi and Hegseth also discussed strengthening defence industrial cooperation with Australia, South Korea and the Philippines, according to Japan’s Defence Ministry.
Japan has also eased restrictions on defence equipment exports in recent years, as part of broader efforts to expand its defence industry and deepen security cooperation with partner countries. Koizumi briefed Hegseth on the changes during their May discussions.
The latest agreement highlights the growing importance both countries attach to strengthening their defence supply chains and ensuring a reliable supply of advanced missiles as regional security tensions continue.
