Japan's government has decided to ease its strict guidelines on arms exports. The change permits the export of lethal finished products, something that was effectively banned. The move marks a shift in Japan's national security policy.

The revisions apply to Japan's "Three Principles" on defense equipment transfers. They include allowing the export of all such hardware made under foreign license to nations where the patent holders are based.

In line with the decision, the country plans to export units of the PAC-3, or Patriot, missile interceptor system to the United States, where the system is licensed. It will be the first export of finished weaponry under the Self-Defense Forces Law since the Three Principles were written in 2014.

The exports come at Washington's request. Sources close to Japan's Defense Ministry say the US wants to make up for a shortage of Patriot missiles it faces due to its military assistance to Ukraine.

Japan manufactures F-15 fighter jets under license from the US. Japanese firms also make defense items such as artillery under license from seven other countries, including the UK, France and Germany.

Exports of Japan-made defense equipment from countries with licenses are permitted to third countries if Tokyo gives prior consent. But the new rules ban such exports to countries where fighting is considered to be taking place.

They allow the export of parts such as engines and wings of fighter jets to countries with which Japan cooperates in security matters.

Defense experts are chiming in on the issue. Takushoku University Professor Sato Heigo says the project should be actively promoted as it will be an extremely important tool in Japan's foreign and security policies.

Ryutsu Keizai University Professor Uemura Hideki says Japan, as a pacifist nation, has been extremely careful about exporting weapons. He criticized the revision as a major policy shift, saying it means the government has declared that Japan will become an arms exporter.