Washington and Tokyo have agreed to open a facility for the final inspection and assembly of a critical air-to-air weapon as part of a $20.7B contract to expand munitions output over seven years. The new plant in Japan will focus on the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, commonly known as the AMRAAM, which is the primary armament for F-35s and other allied fighters. The production deal also includes a joint effort to speed up the manufacturing of the SM-3 Block IIA interceptor.

The arrangement was finalized during meetings in the Philippines between U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjirō Koizumi, with Pacific Commander Samuel Paparo in attendance. Hegseth described the investment in munitions and regional access as essential to building a “credible denial defense” and achieving a vision of peace through strength in the Indo-Pacific.