Thailand joins US, allies to boost missile and drone production in Asia

2026-03-22 - 05:30

Thailand has officially joined the Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience (PIPIR), as member nations reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening defence industrial cooperation and supply chain resilience across the region. In a joint statement released following the group’s 2nd annual plenary meeting held virtually on March 18, representatives from 16 countries endorsed a 2026 roadmap aimed at accelerating collaboration in defence production, sustainment and technology development. The statement, published by the United States Department of War, confirmed the accession of Thailand and the United Kingdom as the 15th and 16th members of the partnership, joining a coalition that includes the United States, Japan, Australia and several European and Indo-Pacific nations. Senior officials and national armaments directors said the partnership would focus on addressing capacity shortfalls and strengthening resilience in the global defence industrial base, particularly in response to growing operational demands. Members agreed to deepen integration across defence supply chains, reduce regulatory barriers, and expand forward sustainment capabilities, while accelerating the production of key military systems and components. The meeting also reviewed progress since PIPIR’s establishment, including initiatives first announced at the Shangri-La Dialogue in May 2025. These include plans to develop a forward repair capability for P-8 radar systems in Australia and to establish common standards for small unmanned aerial systems across the Indo-Pacific. Participants agreed to expand the regional sustainment hub in Australia to support additional P-8 operators, and to advance cooperation on drone technologies through joint industry surveys, shared standards and potential future battery development projects. The statement highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance collaboration through training and knowledge-sharing, including an annual multinational armaments cooperation course co-hosted by the department’s Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies and rotating PIPIR members. New initiatives were also endorsed, including exploring the feasibility of a forward-deployed F100/F110 engine repair hub in Japan, and progressing the establishment of a CH-47 Chinook engine maintenance hub in South Korea. Other efforts include a joint US-Japan solid rocket motor production initiative, expanded munitions development cooperation with the Philippines, and exploring modular unmanned aerial vehicle projects to support regional co-production. Officials said PIPIR would continue to serve as a key multilateral platform to enhance defence industrial resilience, improve interoperability, and support regional security and economic stability in the Indo-Pacific.