The United States plans to use Japanese factories to increase the production of Patriot air defense missiles, which Ukraine uses to defend against Russian attacks. However, this plan is delayed due to a shortage of a critical component made by Boeing.
Japan’s Current Production Capacity
Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) currently makes about 30 PAC-3 missiles each year under a license from Lockheed Martin, a major defense contractor. MHI can potentially increase this number to about 60 missiles per year, according to Japanese government officials and industry sources.
The US aims to boost global production from about 500 to over 750 missiles per year as soon as possible. However, increasing production in Japan is not feasible without more supplies of the missile seekers, which guide them in the final stages of flight. This shortage could delay MHI’s production increase by several years.
Boeing started expanding its seeker factory in the United States last year to increase production by 30%. However, the new production lines won’t be operational until 2027. Boeing did not disclose the number of seekers produced annually but noted it had delivered its 5,000th seeker recently.
Expanding annual PAC-3 production in Japan beyond 60 missiles would require MHI to build more capacity. Japan’s government has offered financial help to defense companies to expand production, but these subsidies only apply to equipment for Japan’s Self Defense Forces, not to exports. Therefore, either MHI or the US would need to fund a new PAC-3 factory, which could cost tens of millions of dollars.
Lockheed Martin emphasized the importance of strategically positioned capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region for deterrence and readiness. However, they referred questions about PAC-3 production in Japan to the Japanese and US governments and MHI. Japan’s Ministry of Defense and MHI declined to comment.
A $4.5 billion contract signed in June with the US Army marks the beginning of an increase in the production of both missiles and seekers. Foreign and defense ministers from Japan and the US are set to meet in Tokyo this month to discuss deepening industrial cooperation on defense, with the Patriot project being a key topic.
Supply chain issues complicate US efforts to meet Ukraine’s demand for munitions, including air defense systems to counter Russian attacks. In a deadly wave of air strikes in July, a Russian missile hit a children’s hospital, killing at least 41 civilians.
In December 2023, Japan eased military export rules to help replenish US Patriot missile stocks, which had been used to support Ukraine. US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel praised this decision and has been advocating for deeper military-industrial ties with Japan to reduce the strain on US defense contractors.
US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed in April to enhance defense industry cooperation. Emanuel, in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, highlighted the weakened US military-industrial complex, which has been exposed by the Ukraine war and Middle East conflict, as a “weak link.”
The plan to use Japanese factories to boost Patriot missile production is facing significant delays due to a critical component shortage. This highlights the challenges in integrating global allies into complex supply chains and the urgent need to address supply chain bottlenecks to support defense needs.
Comments