The United States is cooperating with Japan to increase the production of the “Patriot” air defense missile system. However, due to a shortage of a crucial component produced by Boeing, this project has been delayed.
According to Reuters, Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), has been licensed by defense contractor Lockheed Martin to produce around 30 Patriot-3 air defense missiles (PAC-3) annually, with the potential to increase this number to approximately 60.
The U.S. hopes to quickly boost the global annual production of Patriot-3 air defense missiles from about 500 to over 750. But without an increase in the supply of guidance heads, Japan cannot expand its production, as the guidance head is the directional device in the missile’s final flight stage.
An anonymous industry source stated that due to the shortage in guidance head supply, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries may need several years to ramp up production.
Boeing has been expanding its guidance head production facility in the U.S. since last year, increasing capacity by 30%. However, the new production line is not expected to be operational until 2027. The company did not disclose last year’s production volume but mentioned that they have just delivered the 5,000th guidance head.
Lockheed Martin stated that by 2027, the company’s production of Patriot missile interceptors in the U.S. will increase from 500 to 650 units. The cost per unit is approximately $4 million.
Nevertheless, even with a sufficient supply of guidance heads, expanding Japan’s Patriot-3 air defense missile annual production to over 60 units will require Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to increase production capacity.
In 2022, the Japanese government doubled the defense budget and expressed readiness to provide financial assistance to defense companies looking to expand production. However, these subsidies apply only to equipment supplied to the Japan Self-Defense Forces and not for export.
A government source in Japan mentioned that this implies Mitsubishi Heavy Industries or the U.S. will have to bear the costs of building a new Patriot-3 air defense missile facility, which could amount to tens of millions of dollars, if not more.
In an email statement, Lockheed Martin emphasized, “The Indo-Pacific region is a major focus area for the U.S. and our allies, with the strategic deployment capabilities in the region crucial for supporting deterrence and maintaining readiness.”
A U.S. Department of Defense official revealed that in June, the primary customers of the Patriot air defense missile system signed a contract worth $4.5 billion with the U.S. military, marking the acceleration of production for Patriot missiles and guidance heads.
The foreign and defense ministers of Japan and the United States are scheduled to hold talks in Tokyo this month. It is expected that deepening defense industry cooperation will be a significant topic of discussion, with the Patriot air defense missile project being a key focus.