Japan to sell missiles to US in ‘really welcome’ easing of arms export rules

The move to export lethal weapons for the first time comes with approval of a record annual defence budget, as Japan sees its biggest military build-up since World War II

Japan will not permit the missiles to be transferred to a war zone, but the sales will replenish US stocks, potentially enabling it to provide more support for Ukraine

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A US soldier inspects a Patriot missile defence battery during join exercises at military grounds in Sochaczew, near Warsaw. The government is planning to sell PAC-2 and some more advanced PAC-3 interceptors made in Japan to the US, according to officials who asked not to be identified. Photo: Reuters

Published: 6:31pm, 22 Dec 2023

Japan loosened its restrictions on arms exports on Friday and officially approved a plan to export Patriot missiles to the US, fulfilling a request from its ally, the government said.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government agreed to allow completed defence equipment manufactured under licence in Japan to be exported back to the country of origin. The government is planning to sell PAC-2 and some more advanced PAC-3 interceptors made in Japan to the US, according to officials who asked not to be identified in line with government custom.

The move to export lethal weapons for the first time comes alongside approval of a record annual defence budget, as the country pushes through its biggest military build-up since World War II and seeks to work more closely with the US and other partners to deter threats from China and North Korea.

Ukrainian soldiers reload containers for a launcher during a training course on the Patriot air defence system at a Bundeswehr base. Photo: dpa

“Up until now, it was the US that provided technology to Japan,” former defence minister Itsunori Onodera said in an interview. “For Japan to be able to cooperate in the form of equipment is an important step for the alliance.”

PAC-2 and PAC-3 interceptors are designed to be used for missile defence, and are reported to have been deployed in Ukraine. They will be provided from Japan’s existing holdings, and Japan has budgeted an unspecified amount for inspection of its missile stockpiles.

Japan will not permit the missiles to be transferred on to a war zone, but the sales will help replenish US stocks, potentially enabling it to provide further support for Ukraine, as aid for the country falters.

Patriot interceptors are produced in Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries under licence from RTX and Lockheed Martin. Shares in MHI have risen about 48 per cent over the past year, partly due to the increase in defence spending. Government officials said it had not yet been decided how many Patriot missiles would be transferred to the US, or the price tag.