Japan Eyes Joint Production on U.S. Missiles-Report

[Khephra]

Japan Eyes Joint Production on U.S. Missiles-Report
Mon November 24, 2003 03:38 AM ET

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan has plans for joint production of new interceptor missiles with the United States, a move that would require a review of Tokyo's decades-old ban on weapon exports, a Japanese newspaper said on Monday.

The Defense Ministry wants to start production of some key parts for the next-generation missiles, which Japan is researching with the United States for a missile defense system, as soon as within the next few years, the Asahi Shimbun said.

Such joint production would aim to make Japan's defense-related technology more competitive, it said.

Asahi said the issue of joint production came up in talks between Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in Tokyo this month, and that Ishiba explained that Japan's ban on weapon exports was an obstacle.

more.............

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3879079

[J B]

1. Well this is.. interesting..

Japan certainly has the knowledge base to become an effective weapons exporter if it chooses. Just takes practice and time. It's also hard for Japan to get live testing done if the weapons aren't being used outside the country. I wonder if US arms companies will sense the threat and lobby accordingly.