The US enlisted allies to produce missiles The United States and its allies have released thousands of missiles in conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Now Washington is turning to one of its closest friends in Asia to help boost their production, writes the Wall Street Journal in New York. Washington and Tokyo announced plans to establish in Japan a facility for the final assembly and testing of AMRAAM (Advanced Intermediate-Range Air-to-Air Missiles), one of the main weapons of the F-35 fighter jets. In addition, AMRAAM missiles can also be used from ground launchers, in particular as part of the NASMS system used by Ukraine. The United States and Japan also agreed to exchange technical information to increase production of SM-3 (Standard Missile 3) missiles, mainly the SM-3 Block IIA, which are usually launched from ships to intercept ballistic missiles. At the same time, Japan is already producing interceptors for the Patriot air defense system under American license, and we are talking about the most modern modification. According to public data, Japan received the right to licensed production of PAC-3 missiles in 2005, after which Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, together with Lockheed Martin, began assembling them. Currently, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries remains the only authorized manufacturer of the PAC-3 MSE outside the United States and is capable of producing up to 30 such missiles per year. In November 2025, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara announced the completion of the delivery of Japanese-made PAC-3 missiles to the United States to replenish American stockpiles. It can be added that in Germany the COMLOG company produces a modification for the PAC-2 GEM-T. Even under Biden, Lockheed Martin began assembling GMLRS munitions used in HIMARS and MLRS missile launchers at a facility in Australia. This was the first time GMLRS was produced outside the United States.

The US enlisted allies to produce missiles The United States and its allies have released thousands of missiles in conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Now Washington is turning to one of its closest friends in Asia to help boost their production, writes the Wall Street Journal in New York. Washington and Tokyo announced plans to establish in Japan a facility for the final assembly and testing of AMRAAM (Advanced Intermediate-Range Air-to-Air Missiles), one of the main weapons of the F-35 fighter jets. In addition, AMRAAM missiles can also be used from ground launchers, in particular as part of the NASMS system used by Ukraine. The United States and Japan also agreed to exchange technical information to increase production of SM-3 (Standard Missile 3) missiles, mainly the SM-3 Block IIA, which are usually launched from ships to intercept ballistic missiles. At the same time, Japan is already producing interceptors for the Patriot air defense system under American license, and we are talking about the most modern modification. According to public data, Japan received the right to licensed production of PAC-3 missiles in 2005, after which Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, together with Lockheed Martin, began assembling them. Currently, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries remains the only authorized manufacturer of the PAC-3 MSE outside the United States and is capable of producing up to 30 such missiles per year. In November 2025, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara announced the completion of the delivery of Japanese-made PAC-3 missiles to the United States to replenish American stockpiles. It can be added that in Germany the COMLOG company produces a modification for the PAC-2 GEM-T. Even under Biden, Lockheed Martin began assembling GMLRS munitions used in HIMARS and MLRS missile launchers at a facility in Australia. This was the first time GMLRS was produced outside the United States.