U.S. Plan to Boost Patriot Missile Production in Japan Faces Delays
The United States' plan to increase production of Patriot air defense missiles in Japan has hit a snag due to a shortage of a critical component manufactured by Boeing. This delay comes at a crucial time, as Ukraine relies heavily on these missiles to defend against Russian attacks.
Currently, Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) produces around 30 PAC-3 missiles annually under license from Lockheed Martin. The U.S. aims to increase global production from 500 to over 750 missiles per year. However, this expansion hinges on securing additional supplies of the missiles' seekers, which guide them during the final stages of flight.
The shortage of seekers, manufactured by Boeing, could delay MHI's ability to increase production by several years. This highlights the challenges faced by the U.S. in integrating its allies' industrial capabilities into its complex supply chains.
While Boeing is expanding its seeker factory in the U.S., the additional production lines won't be operational until 2027. Even if enough seekers become available, expanding annual PAC-3 production in Japan beyond 60 would require MHI to build additional capacity.
Financial assistance for such expansion is limited, as Japan's subsidies only apply to equipment destined for its own Self Defense Forces, not exports. This means that either MHI or the U.S. would need to bear the cost of a new PAC-3 factory, which could run into tens of millions of dollars.
Despite these challenges, the U.S. and Japan remain committed to deepening their industrial cooperation on defense. This collaboration is seen as crucial for bolstering deterrence and maintaining readiness in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Patriot project is a key part of this effort, and discussions on further collaboration are expected during the upcoming meeting between foreign and defense ministers from both countries.