Allied Defense: U.S. and Japan Plan Joint Missile Assembly Plant
The facility in Japan will produce AMRAAMs for F-35s as officials discuss naval tensions in Cebu.
By Takeshi Davidson ·
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi agreed Wednesday night to build a final assembly and inspection plant in Japan. The facility will produce the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM, through a joint effort designated Operation Supercharge. Koizumi announced the deal during a news conference in Cebu, Philippines, where he met with Hegseth on the sidelines of an annual meeting of Southeast Asian defense chiefs.
Koizumi stated that the missiles are essential for F-35 fighter jets. The U.S.-made aircraft are among the most advanced in the world and are operated by both the American and Japanese militaries. The two nations aim to strengthen their alliance's deterrence and response capabilities with greater speed, according to Koizumi. He described the regional situation as increasingly severe.
The announcement comes as the allies monitor China's growing assertiveness in Asia. Koizumi raised specific concerns on Thursday about Chinese naval activity in southwestern Japan. He reported that three Chinese destroyers and one coast guard ship crossed the Osumi Strait south of Kyushu this week. The fleet then headed east toward the Pacific Ocean. Koizumi noted that this was the first time his ministry had spotted such a fleet configuration. His ministry will continue to watch the activity with high interest.
Hegseth addressed a separate group of ASEAN defense ministers on Wednesday. The session was 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. He said the strategy is designed to deter coercion and aggression while avoiding needless escalation or public theatrics. The administration reaffirmed its commitment to a free and open international order based on the rule of law.
Hegseth assured the Philippines, Washington's oldest treaty ally in Asia, that the U.S. will build robust deterrence against Chinese actions in the South China Sea. Beijing claims nearly the entire waterway, which serves as a key global trade route. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also hold overlapping claims in the region. Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels have escalated in disputed shoals and outlying waters. Washington has stated it is obligated to defend the Philippines if its forces face an armed attack.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles also spoke in Cebu on Wednesday. He said Australia and its allies will continue to defend the rule of law despite Chinese assertiveness. Marles referenced an incident last year where a Chinese J-16 fighter released flares and passed within 30 meters of an Australian P-8 Poseidon surveillance jet. He emphasized that freedom of navigation on the high seas is profoundly important for Australia.
The annual meetings aim to avert major regional conflict and strengthen defense cooperation. However, the U.S. and China and their allies have often traded criticisms on the sidelines. Japan has accelerated its military buildup in southwestern Japan to deter China. Beijing and Tokyo also maintain a separate dispute over tiny Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea. Both sides frequently accuse the other of infringing on maritime territory.
