Senior defense officials from 16 nations recommitted to bolstering industrial resilience in the Indo-Pacific during a virtual plenary meeting.
The Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience, or PIPIR, held its second annual gathering on March 18, with national armaments directors and other senior officials from the United States, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, and the United Kingdom participating.
Participants reaffirmed the group’s core vision and terms of reference, discussed regional challenges and opportunities, and endorsed a 2026 roadmap for workstream initiatives, according to a statement released on March 20.
The group welcomed Thailand as its 15th member and the United Kingdom as the 16th, expanding the alliance across the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions to enhance security and economic prosperity.
Officials addressed global defense industrial base shortfalls that hinder operational needs, while noting progress through PIPIR in overcoming barriers to cooperation.
They pledged to integrate supply chains, boost forward sustainment, eliminate policy hurdles, and speed production of critical systems.
Since PIPIR’s launch, members highlighted advances stemming from two initiatives announced by the U.S. Secretary of War at the Shangri-La Dialogue in May 2025: a forward repair hub for P-8 radar systems in Australia and standards for small unmanned aerial systems across the Indo-Pacific.
Next steps include expanding Australia’s P-8 hub to aid additional regional operators, as announced at the recent Shangri-La Dialogue, and endorsing four statements of intent for small unmanned aerial systems. Those cover battery and small motor development via industry surveys, reciprocal standards, common procurement policies, and future battery projects.
PIPIR members measured gains since the prior plenary, including the annual execution of the Multinational Armaments Resilience Seminar and the first Indo-Pacific multinational armaments cooperation course, co-hosted by the Department of War’s Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies and rotating members. The partnership also continues expert exchanges, tabletop exercises, and collaborative events.
New efforts aim to deepen collaboration: exploring a forward-deployed F100/F110 engine repair hub in Japan for F-15 and F-16 sustainment; advancing a CH-47 Chinook T-55 engine repair hub in the Republic of Korea, announced at the US-ROK Logistics Cooperation Committee in July 2025; launching a U.S.-Japan solid rocket motor production initiative chaired by Japan; assessing a 30mm-by-173mm ammunition production line with the Philippines; pursuing modular unmanned aerial vehicle co-production; and developing a project guide to streamline future collaborations among governments and industry.