Japan Defence Minister Announces Joint Missile Production Push with US
Japan's government has announced plans to host an AMRAAM missile assembly facility as part of a broader push with the United States to expand joint missile production. The initiative, named Operation Supercharge, is being presented by Tokyo as a transformative move for the Indo-Pacific defence landscape.
Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi made the announcement at a press conference on Wednesday in Cebu, Philippines. He spoke after holding discussions with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on the margins of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus.
“We have finally agreed to set up a final assembly and inspection facility in Japan for the AMRAAM air-to-air missile,” Koizumi told reporters. “This missile is indispensable for the F-35. It is a groundbreaking agreement that will guarantee the availability of equipment both countries need and will strengthen Japan's defence industrial foundation.”
The Japanese Defence Ministry said the two countries have also agreed to share technical information aimed at increasing production of the SM-3 Block IIA. This ship-based ballistic missile interceptor was co-developed by Japan and the United States.
The ministry described both measures as components of Operation Supercharge. Koizumi first raised the proposal during his meeting with Hegseth in Singapore on May 30. The effort seeks to intensify bilateral cooperation, including the joint development and manufacture of missiles such as the SM-3 Block IIA and AMRAAM.
A Pentagon statement issued after the Hegseth-Koizumi meeting did not mention the AMRAAM facility. It stated that Hegseth applauded Japan's efforts to strengthen its defence industrial capacity and that the two leaders resolved to maintain close alignment on critical weapons production.
According to the statement, the leaders also discussed raising investment, access and presence in the defence sector, practical training such as live-fire exercises, and distributed operations to defend the First Island Chain.
Koizumi did not disclose the name of any Japanese industrial partner, the plant location, the timeframe or the likely production capacity.
Raytheon's AMRAAM is launched from aircraft such as the F-35 and from ground-based air defence systems. In September, the Pentagon awarded Raytheon a multiyear AMRAAM contract worth up to $20.7 billion. An earlier arrangement calls for at least 1,900 missiles to be produced each year.
The proposed plant reflects Washington's broader attempt to increase joint arms manufacturing in the Indo-Pacific. The United States and its allies have expressed concern about China's growing military capabilities in the region. The Japanese Defence Ministry said Koizumi and Hegseth also discussed working with Australia, South Korea and the Philippines during their May meeting.
In recent years, Japan has loosened its regulations on defence equipment exports. In May, Koizumi briefed Hegseth on these policy changes.