U.S. and Japan to Build Joint AMRAAM Missile Plant in Japan

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced on Wednesday night that the United States and Japan will construct a facility in Japan for the joint production of Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles, known as AMRAAM. The agreement, reached during a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, designates the new site as a final assembly and inspection plant. Koizumi stated that these missiles are essential components for the F-35 fighter jets, which are operated by both the U.S. and Japanese militaries.

The two nations agreed to build the plant under a joint initiative named Operation Supercharge. This arrangement allows for the domestic assembly of U.S.-designed weaponry within Japanese borders. The F-35, one of the most advanced aircraft in global service, relies on the AMRAAM for its air-to-air combat capabilities. By shifting some production and final inspection to Japan, the allies aim to streamline the supply chain for critical defense hardware.

The announcement came on the sidelines of an annual gathering of Southeast Asian defense chiefs in the central Philippine province of Cebu. The meeting brought together leaders from the region and major Asian and Western counterparts. While the primary goal of the summit is to strengthen regional defense cooperation, the U.S. and its allies used the venue to discuss specific military procurement and production strategies.

Koizumi described the regional security environment as increasingly severe. He told reporters that he and Hegseth shared a sense of crisis regarding current conditions. "We agreed to strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance with greater speed and intensity than ever before," Koizumi said. The ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open international order based on the rule of law, opposing any unilateral attempts to change the status quo through force.

Earlier in the week, Koizumi cited specific naval activity in southwestern Japan as evidence of the challenging security landscape. He reported that three Chinese destroyers and a coast guard ship crossed the Osumi Strait south of Kyushu this week. This was the first time his ministry has spotted such a fleet configuration heading east toward the Pacific Ocean. Koizumi said his ministry will continue to monitor this activity closely as Japan accelerates its military buildup in the southwestern region.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the ASEAN defense ministers on Wednesday, led by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. Hegseth did not mention China by name but described the U.S. approach as strong, quiet, and clear. "Strong enough to deter coercion and aggression, quiet enough to avoid needless escalation or public theatrics to let our actions speak for themselves," Hegseth said. He emphasized that the U.S. stands ready to defend its interests and those of its allies.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles also spoke in Cebu, stating that Australia will continue to defend the rule of law in the Pacific. He referenced an incident last year when a Chinese J-16 fighter passed within 30 meters of an Australian P-8 Poseidon surveillance jet. "Freedom of navigation on the high seas is profoundly important for Australia," Marles said. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also maintain claims in the South China Sea, where confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels have intensified.

Washington has stated it is obligated to defend the Philippines if its forces are attacked, including in the South China Sea. Beijing and Tokyo also maintain a separate dispute over islands in the East China Sea. The new missile production agreement in Japan adds to a series of military and diplomatic moves by the allies to bolster their joint defense posture in the Indo-Pacific region.

The next phase of the joint missile production effort will involve the detailed planning and construction of the assembly plant in Japan. The U.S. and Japan will continue to coordinate through their respective defense ministries to finalize the logistics and operational details of the facility.