Japan has completed its first-ever export of finished Patriot air-defence interceptor missiles to the United States — a historic shift in Tokyo’s arms policy that is almost certain to infuriate Moscow.
Japan completed its first-ever export of domestically produced Patriot PAC-3 missiles from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) inventory to the United States, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara confirmed on November 20. These missiles are manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries under a US license from Lockheed Martin.
Kihara declined to specify the quantity of interceptors sent to the US but noted that the export “will contribute to enhancing the Japan-US alliance, Japan’s security and the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region.”
The development comes more than a year after Japan’s MoD approved the transfer of missiles for the US Patriot PAC-3 system in July 2024.
That decision marked a major shift in Japan’s defense policy because Tokyo had previously been permitted to export only components tied to licensed manufacturing agreements, not the finished product. The rules were modified to facilitate the transfer of these lethal interceptors to Washington.
Patriot systems have been a cornerstone of Ukraine’s air defense since the summer of 2023, intercepting Russian ballistic, cruise missiles, and drones with high success.
The US requested that the JASDF transfer some of these interceptors so it could continue assisting Ukraine without depleting its own stockpiles.
For example, the US Army recorded the largest single-event launch of Patriot interceptors in US military history on June 23, 2025, when Iran launched ballistic missiles on the Al Udeid base in Qatar as retaliation for the US air strikes on its nuclear facilities.
The “backfill” strategy would allow the US to leverage Japan’s production capacity and ensure a continued supply to Ukraine.
The continued supply of Patriot interceptors to Ukraine becomes extremely significant as Russia has intensified aerial attacks on the embattled country, causing widespread damage and civilian casualties.
The Japanese officials have clarified that the interceptors will only be used by the US military and will not be supplied to a third nation. This is in line with Tokyo’s “Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology,” which prohibits the transfer of arms to countries at war.
However, the move is still very much likely to infuriate Russia, primarily because it indirectly fuels the Ukrainian war effort.
The Russian Embassy in Japan earlier said, “They do not particularly hide here that the main goal of this agreement is to replenish the American arsenals, which have been reduced due to the transfer of weapons to the Kyiv regime. It may be the ammunition that will eventually end up in Ukraine.”
“For our part, we have repeatedly warned the official Japanese authorities that we consider any supply of weapons to Ukraine – no matter where they come from – as an openly hostile act. Such steps will have an extremely negative impact on bilateral relations,” the Embassy further added.
Relations between Japan and Russia have sharply deteriorated since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022. In response to Japan’s support for Ukraine, Russia froze peace treaty negotiations, halted agreed-upon economic projects, and ended visa-free visits to disputed islands for Japanese citizens.
The supply of PAC-3 interceptors could further raise tensions and complicate matters.
Russian Ambassador to Japan Nikolai Nozdrev earlier cautioned that Moscow would respond decisively if Japanese missiles were found in Ukraine. Possible retaliatory measures could include sanctions or other diplomatic actions.
Notably, demand for the Patriot missile defense system and interceptors has surged in the wake of the Ukraine War. In September 2025, the US Army signed a mammoth $9.8 billion contract with Lockheed Martin to purchase 1,970 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 MSE interceptors and related hardware for the US and its allies.
Lockheed said it plans to deliver more than 600 interceptors in 2025, adding that it had ramped up production two years ahead of bagging the contract, with the help of its internal investments. The defense giant reportedly has plans to increase production to 650 per year by 2027 and potentially up to 750 or more in subsequent years.
At the time, Maj. Gen. Frank Lozano, head of the Army’s Program Executive Office Missiles and Space, said the multi-year purchase allows “the Army to procure a larger quantity of missiles for more rapid delivery, thus filling our inventory faster.”
But until these deliveries happen, the US Army will be left with dwindling supplies, making the import of missiles from allies imperative.
Notably, the PAC-3 MSE is the most advanced variant of the Patriot interceptor. It uses hit-to-kill technology to destroy targets by direct impact rather than explosive fragmentation, unlike typical interceptors. This increases efficacy against modern threats by delivering significantly more kinetic energy.
Lockheed Martin states that the interceptor is intended to counter aircraft, cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons, and lethal, precise tactical ballistic missiles.
Ukraine Can Upgrade Its Patriots
The US government announced that it has authorized Ukraine’s possible acquisition of equipment to modernize its Patriot air defense missiles.
Earlier this month, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said that Congress has been informed of the State Department’s permission of the potential foreign military sale, which may be valued at up to $105 million. The principal manufacturers of Patriot systems and missiles, Lockheed Martin and RTX Corp, are the principal contractors.
Ukraine would be able to upgrade its current fleet of M901 Patriot launchers to the M903 variant with the equipment and services included in the deal, according to reports. Additionally, ground support equipment, spare parts, support, training, accessories, and other program and logistical support components would be sold.
The announcement came days after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine has received more United States-made Patriot air defence systems to help it counter Russian attacks.
“More Patriots are now in Ukraine and being put into operation,” Zelenskyy posted on social media. “Of course, more systems are needed to protect key infrastructure sites and our cities across the entire territory of our state.”
Last month, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine and the US are preparing a contract for 25 Patriot air defense systems. However, it will take years before the US can deliver them to Ukraine, as several other customers are currently in line amid surging demand for these battle-tested AD systems.
Patriots are now seen as crucial to Ukraine’s defense against Russian attacks, especially against ballistic missiles. These cutting-edge systems proved their mettle by downing the “invincible” Kinzhal hypersonic missile.
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