Japan to Sell Missiles to US in Easing of Arms Export Rules
- Patriot missiles to be the first export of lethal weapons
- Cabinet also approves record defense budget as step in buildup
A PAC-2 missile.
Photographer: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Japan loosened its restrictions on arms exports on Friday and officially approved a plan to export Patriot missiles to the US, fulfilling a request from its ally, the government said.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government agreed to allow completed defense equipment manufactured under license in Japan to be exported back to the country of origin. The government is planning to sell PAC-2 and some more advanced PAC-3 interceptors made in Japan to the US, according to officials who asked not to be identified in line with government custom.