Israel has offered Japan and South Korea participation in the Arrow anti-tactical ballistic missile system programme. Any such co-operation, however, is dependent on approval from the US Department of Defense, which is providing the bulk of the funding.
Japan and South Korea are interested in the Israeli Arrow as a potential counter to North Korea's intermediate-range ballistic missiles. The two countries have been briefed by Israeli officials on the programme.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanahu visited Japan and South Korea in late August and discussed the issue with both head of states. No details have been released on these discussions.
Israeli senior sources say that Japan and South Korea have been "-following the development of the Arrow with great interest".
The sources say that it is not clear yet whether the two countries may invest in the final stages of the programme or whether they are interested in the off-the-shelf sale of the Arrow system.
The Israeli sources say that, following the prime minister's visit, experts from Japan and South Korea are expected to visit Israel in the near future to continue talks.
Source: Flight International