US faces obstacles in attempt to increase production of missiles for Patriot at plants in Japan - media
Kyiv • UNN
The US plan to increase production of Patriot missiles in Japan is delayed due to a shortage of Boeing homing systems. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries could double production, but needs additional components and capacity expansion.
The US plan to use Japanese factories to increase the production of Patriot air defense missiles is postponed due to the lack of missile homing systems manufactured by Boeing. This is reported by UNN with reference to Reuters.
Details
According to sources, the US plan to use Japanese factories to increase the production of Patriot air defense missiles used by Ukraine to defend against Russian attacks is being postponed due to the lack of a critical component manufactured by Boeing. We are talking about missile homing systems.
It is noted that the Japanese company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries already produces about 30 missiles annually under the license of defense contractor Lockheed Martin and could increase this number to 60.
"The United States hopes to increase production from about 500 per year to more than 750 per year worldwide as soon as possible. But no expansion in Japan will be possible without additional supplies of the missile guidance systems that direct them in the final stages of flight. It may take several years before Mitsubishi Heavy Industries can increase production," the sources say.
According to the publication, even with a sufficient number of homing systems, the Japanese company would also have to increase production capacity. In 2022, the Japanese government announced that it was ready to provide financial assistance to defense companies that want to expand production. However, it is about assistance for companies that work for the needs of Japan itself, not for export.
The publication also emphasizes that the foreign and defense ministers of Japan and the United States are set to meet in Tokyo this month for talks that are expected to include deepening industrial cooperation in the defense sector.
Recall
As part of the latest military aid package to Ukraine, which US President announced on the sidelines of the NATO summit, Washington handed over a battery of Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine.
