Japan and the US have agreed to streamline foreign military sales (FMS) procurement as Tokyo seeks to resolve shipment issues of weapons acquired from America.
The East Asian country’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) discussed the plan with the US at the 10th iteration of the Security Cooperation Committee Meeting, bilateral talks held annually to improve weapons and equipment purchases between the countries.
The meeting was attended by ATLA Director General Hajime Aoyagi and US Defense Security Cooperation Agency Director Michael Miller, who both confirmed that they will “promote the rationalization of FMS procurement” of both parties.
According to ATLA, the agreement centered on the pursuance of “management and work to reduce undelivered and unsettled amounts.”
It also requested the US to urge its military segments to “provide Japan with more detailed information” on the price tags of procured articles.
Hundreds of Contracts Affected
The deal followed a January investigation by Japan’s Board of Audit that found significant delivery delays under the FMS program.
The report disclosed that 118 US military equipment contracts signed since fiscal year 2018, valued at about 1.1 trillion yen (more than $7 billion) remain undelivered more than five years later.
That audit attributed most delays to US manufacturers, forcing Japan Self-Defense Forces units to operate aging capabilities for longer than their expected service life.
One of the most serious cases involved delayed maintenance equipment for Tokyo’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye spy plane, crippling the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s core surveillance platform sustainment.
The FMS program is Japan’s primary channel for acquiring US defense systems, with Washington overseeing contracts and deliveries on behalf of international customers.
