Home›Global Markets›Trade & Tariffs›Kyiv signals interest in Patriot interceptor productio…

Kyiv signals interest in Patriot interceptor production with Japan

Analysts say the plan is unlikely because it would require Japan to loosen sensitive rules on exporting lethal weapons, potentially worsening regional relations.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Trade & Tariffs

Japan’s close support for Ukraine may be tested after Kyiv expressed interest in working with Tokyo to produce Patriot interceptor missiles, South China Morning Post reports, citing analysts.

The article says such a shift is widely viewed as unlikely because it would require Japan to cross a sensitive line on exports of lethal weapons and complicate its regional relationships.

South China Morning Post notes that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is among the firms approved by the US to manufacture Patriot missiles, and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the company’s capabilities after pointing to the need for anti-missile ballistic production following a US license.

It adds that Patriot missiles have helped Ukraine intercept Russia’s ballistic and hypersonic missiles since the war began in February 2022, while Kyiv currently faces a severe shortage of these interceptors.

More like this

Sources