The United States plans to convert U.S. Forces Japan into a joint force headquarters and expand U.S.-Japan missile co-production. The planned conversion was announced following the conclusion of the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee’s ministerial conference in Tokyo on Sunday.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, a Wash100 awardee, described updating the alliance command and control as a “historic decision” that would better meet current and future challenges.
“Japan’s new Joint Operations Command will further allow our forces to work together more closely than ever. And these new operational capabilities and responsibilities will advance our collective deterrence,” Austin told reporters following the high-level talks with Japanese officials.
The new joint force headquarters will be headed by a three-star officer who will report to the commander of Indo-Pacific Command. To serve as the U.S. counterpart to Japan Self-Defense Forces Joint Operations Command, it will provide new capabilities to advance collective U.S.-Japan deterrence, Austin said.
During the Security Consultative Committee meeting between Austin, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japan’s Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, talks focused on expanding missile co-production opportunities. Discussions on the capacity expansion centered on advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement.
The Japanese Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency is scheduled to hold an industry day in September to open opportunities to advance discussions on the missile co-production and capacity expansion plans.