What Happened
Tokyo And Washington Strengthen Defense Ties Amid Munitions Crunch
The US and Japan have finalized a plan to assemble the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) in Japan, according to Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. The agreement, which covers the establishment of a final assembly and inspection facility in Japan, aims to boost production of the key air defense weapon. The partners have also agreed to increase production of the Standard Missile-3 Block IIA, a ship-based interceptor used to counter ballistic missiles. The agreements are part of a broader effort to deepen defense ties between the two countries, amid a historic ramp-up in defense spending in Japan. This development was first reported by Breaking Defense.