After such changes, Japan will be able to export several dozen Patriot missiles to the United States to replenish the Pentagon's stockpile. Thanks to this, Washington will be able to send more air defense assets to Ukraine.
The changes, come as Japan moves to export license-built Patriot air-defense missiles to the United States following a request by Washington to help replenish weapon stockpiles depleted by its military assistance to war-torn Ukraine, as reported by The Japan Times media outlet.
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Tokyo made it clear that the upcoming delivery of Patriot missiles is only meant to replenish U.S. stocks and not for further transfer to a third country. However, under the revised framework, license-built military gear could also be transferred to third countries as long as Tokyo gives its approval.
This means, for example, that Washington could potentially transfer Japanese-made Patriot missiles or other license-built gear to countries in Europe as long as recipients are not officially in a state of war.
While this prohibits transfers to Ukraine, which is approaching its third year of countering a russian invasion, Tokyo’s revisions will give Washington and Europe greater flexibility when it comes to strengthening Kyiv’s air defenses.
“If Japan transfers its (Patriot) PAC-3 missiles to the U.S., and Washington exports the Patriots it already stocks to Ukraine, then this can indirectly support Kyiv without affecting U.S. air defense capacity,” said Masashi Murano, a Japan chair fellow at the U.S.-based Hudson Institute.
In addition to final products, Murano pointed to another area where Washington is looking for Tokyo’s support: high-performance explosives and components.
“These contribute to extending the range of many projectiles, but, just like air-defense missiles, they are in short supply due to a surge in demand.” Until 2014, Japanese military exports were essentially prohibited, meaning that the Defense Ministry and its predecessor were the only customers for domestic defense firms for about six decades.
The new revisions also allow for transfers of components and technology resulting from joint development projects.
At the same time, Tokyo hopes that these revisions will bolster Japan’s own security as they are aimed at maintaining an existing international order that it sees as increasingly under threat from countries such as China, russia and North Korea.
Read more: Group of Ukrainian Military Personnel Has Started the Patriot Training Course – German Air Force
