diff --git a/icu4j/.externalToolBuilders/icu4j_Resources.launch b/icu4j/.externalToolBuilders/icu4j_Resources.launch
index e5367505ca2..4e3cd7a95cb 100644
--- a/icu4j/.externalToolBuilders/icu4j_Resources.launch
+++ b/icu4j/.externalToolBuilders/icu4j_Resources.launch
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?>
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <launchConfiguration type="org.eclipse.ant.AntBuilderLaunchConfigurationType">
 <stringAttribute key="org.eclipse.ant.ui.ATTR_ANT_AFTER_CLEAN_TARGETS" value="resources,"/>
+<stringAttribute key="org.eclipse.ant.ui.ATTR_ANT_MANUAL_TARGETS" value="resources,"/>
 <booleanAttribute key="org.eclipse.ant.ui.ATTR_TARGETS_UPDATED" value="true"/>
 <booleanAttribute key="org.eclipse.ant.ui.DEFAULT_VM_INSTALL" value="false"/>
 <listAttribute key="org.eclipse.debug.core.MAPPED_RESOURCE_PATHS">
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@
 <booleanAttribute key="org.eclipse.jdt.launching.DEFAULT_CLASSPATH" value="true"/>
 <stringAttribute key="org.eclipse.jdt.launching.PROJECT_ATTR" value="icu4j"/>
 <stringAttribute key="org.eclipse.ui.externaltools.ATTR_LOCATION" value="${workspace_loc:/icu4j/build.xml}"/>
-<stringAttribute key="org.eclipse.ui.externaltools.ATTR_RUN_BUILD_KINDS" value="full,"/>
+<stringAttribute key="org.eclipse.ui.externaltools.ATTR_RUN_BUILD_KINDS" value="full,incremental,"/>
 <booleanAttribute key="org.eclipse.ui.externaltools.ATTR_TRIGGERS_CONFIGURED" value="true"/>
 <stringAttribute key="org.eclipse.ui.externaltools.ATTR_WORKING_DIRECTORY" value="${workspace_loc:/icu4j}"/>
 </launchConfiguration>
diff --git a/icu4j/.project b/icu4j/.project
index 93ed62b2c73..1a303d7db48 100644
--- a/icu4j/.project
+++ b/icu4j/.project
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 		</buildCommand>
 		<buildCommand>
 			<name>org.eclipse.ui.externaltools.ExternalToolBuilder</name>
-			<triggers>full,</triggers>
+			<triggers>full,incremental,</triggers>
 			<arguments>
 				<dictionary>
 					<key>LaunchConfigHandle</key>