Japan to supply Patriot missiles to US amid stockpile shortage
NewsArmy
By
Dylan Malyasov
Jul 30, 2024
Modified date: Jul 30, 2024
Japan has agreed to sell an undisclosed number of Patriot missiles to the United States for 3 billion yen ($19 million) to help replenish U.S. stockpiles that have been depleted after bolstering Ukraine’s air defenses.
The deal was confirmed by Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) on Sunday.
While ATLA officials did not specify the number of missiles involved, a former Pentagon official familiar with the negotiations indicated that around 10 missiles are expected to be transferred. These standard PAC-3 missiles from the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) will be delivered to the U.S. military “soon,” according to ATLA.
The Patriot missile system, which stands for “Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target,” is the U.S. Army’s most advanced air defense system, capable of detecting and intercepting incoming missiles. In the United States, RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies) produces the radar and ground systems, while Lockheed Martin manufactures the interceptor missiles.
Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries produces approximately 30 Patriot missiles annually for the Air Self-Defense Force. The SDF currently uses three types of Patriot missiles: PAC-2, PAC-3, and the advanced PAC-3 MSE (Missile Segment Enhancement), which has an extended range of up to 50%. An advanced PAC-3 missile typically costs around $4 million.
https://defence-blog.com/japan-to-supply-patriot-missiles-to-us-amid-stockpile-shortage/
