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Japan announces agreement with US for joint missile production facility

Koizumi and Hegseth tied the agreement to F-35 jets and alliance deterrence, but few further details were released.

Updated Oct 29, 2026 · 18:23 UTC2 reports

The short version

  • Japan's defense minister said the US and Japan agreed to establish a Japanese facility for joint production of advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles.[Associated Press · NPR]
  • The missiles are part of a joint effort called Operation Supercharge and are described as essential for F-35 fighter jets.[Associated Press · NPR]
  • Defense Minister Koizumi and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, meeting in Cebu, said they agreed to strengthen alliance deterrence and response capabilities.[Associated Press · NPR]
  • Koizumi also said three Chinese destroyers and a coast guard ship recently crossed the Osumi Strait toward the Pacific, the first such configuration his ministry has spotted.[NPR]

Key facts

  • The United States and Japan agreed to establish a Japanese facility for joint production of advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles, according to Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi.[Associated Press · NPR]
  • The joint missile production effort is called Operation Supercharge and is described by Koizumi as essential for F-35 fighter jets.[Associated Press · NPR]
  • Koizumi and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met in Cebu, Philippines, and agreed to strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance.[Associated Press · NPR]
  • Koizumi said three Chinese destroyers and a coast guard ship crossed the Osumi Strait and headed east to the Pacific Ocean, the first such fleet configuration his ministry has spotted.[NPR]

What remains uncertain

  • No further details of the agreement were provided, so costs, timelines and production scale are unknown.[Associated Press]
  • The agreement and the Chinese vessel account rest on statements by Japan's defense minister, and the provided reporting includes no independent verification of the vessel account.[Associated Press · NPR]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.