The United States and Japan agreed Wednesday to build a facility in Japan for the final assembly and inspection of Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles, known as AMRAAM.

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced the deal following bilateral talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of a Southeast Asian defense ministers' meeting in Cebu, Philippines. The project forms part of a broader U.S.-Japan initiative called Operation Supercharge aimed at boosting munitions output.

The facility will handle final assembly and inspection of AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, which arm F-35 stealth fighters operated by both nations. The two sides also agreed to share technical information to expand production of SM-3 Block IIA ballistic missile interceptors.

The move comes as U.S. and allied missile stockpiles have declined sharply from use in Ukraine and the Middle East. Officials cited China's military buildup in the region as a key driver for strengthening joint production capacity and the broader alliance deterrence posture.

Negotiations on the AMRAAM plant trace back to at least 2024, with a feasibility study involving Mitsubishi Electric and Raytheon. The latest step aligns with a separate Pentagon contract valued at up to $20.7 billion to ramp up overall AMRAAM production.

Koizumi described the agreement as groundbreaking for both countries' defense needs and Japan's industrial base. The exact location of the plant remains undisclosed.

Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to a rules-based international order during the discussions.