Japan races to fill its ammo stores after Ukraine lessons

Japan plans to begin building at least 65 new ammunition depots from fiscal 2027 as it works to correct stockpile and storage shortfalls highlighted by the war in Ukraine. A standardized depot design should accelerate construction and support more dispersed, resilient storage for precision missiles, air-defense interceptors and conventional ammunition. The effort complements faster procurement of improved Type 12 missiles, Tomahawks, SM-3 Block IIA, SM-6 and Patriot PAC-3 MSE rounds, reflecting Tokyo’s shift from platform-centered modernization toward the sustainment depth required for a prolonged conflict.