The United States and Japan have agreed to set up a facility in Japan to help produce AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, the Associated Press and Air & Space Forces Magazine report. Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced the deal Wednesday in Cebu, Philippines, after meeting US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

"We finally reached an agreement on the establishment of a final assembly and inspection facility in Japan for the AMRAAM air-to-air missile, which is essential for the F-35," Koizumi said, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine's translation. He called it a "groundbreaking agreement."

The location has not been announced. The Pentagon's readout of the meeting did not mention the plant, Air & Space Forces Magazine reports. It said the two leaders agreed to keep working closely on producing key munitions.

The talks began in July 2024 under the two men's predecessors. Air & Space Forces Magazine says approval took more than two years partly because of Japan's strict limits on exporting or co-producing weapons, which date back to World War II. The missile also has secret guidance parts that need safeguards.

The deal follows a Pentagon contract with RTX worth up to $20.7 billion to expand AMRAAM production over seven years. A February framework calls for at least 1,900 missiles a year.

The ministers met at a gathering of Southeast Asian defense chiefs. Koizumi said they agreed to strengthen the alliance "with greater speed and intensity than ever before." Neither he nor Hegseth named China. Hegseth called the US approach "strong, quiet and clear," the AP reports.

What we know: The US and Japan agreed to a final assembly and inspection site for AMRAAM missiles in Japan.
What we don't: Where it will be built, and when production will start.