The Japanese government is considering exporting domestically made Patriot surface-to-air guided missiles to the United States, as it plans to relax its export rules on defense equipment later this week, a lawmaker said Wednesday.
Japan has currently limited the exports of U.S.-licensed defense products to components. The new rules, however, will not only allow parts but also completed products to be shipped at the request of a country where the manufacturing license originated.
The United States has shown interest in Japan’s supply of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptor missiles, which are made under U.S. license, Hitoshi Kikawada, head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s defense panel, told reporters after the LDP approved the draft revised arms export rules.
