The domestic defense industry is an important pillar that supports Japan’s national security. The industry should be regarded as part of the nation’s strength, and efforts must be made to strengthen the foundation of its production.   In recent years, one company after another has withdrawn from the defense industry.   Komatsu Ltd. has stopped manufacturing light armored vehicles, while….Read more

BY GABRIEL DOMINGUEZ STAFF WRITER   With tensions and threats growing in East Asia and elsewhere in the world, Japan is aiming to boost its military spending. That’s set to be a boon for foreign defense contractors, but it’s a different story for domestic firms.   And without a change in acquisition trends, analysts say, the very viability of the….Read more

To promote Japan’s defense industry, the government plans to take the lead in expanding exports of defense equipment such as aircraft and vehicles used by the Self-Defense Forces, according to governmental sources.   Under this policy, the government will be fully involved in all facets of negotiations with other countries regarding such orders and provide financial support to defense-related enterprises.….Read more

All national papers spotlighted the Defense Ministry’s announcement on Wednesday that it has filed with the Finance Ministry an initial budget request of 5.5947 trillion yen ($40.2 billion) for next fiscal year, noting that the figure is the highest ever and up by 3.6% from last year. In addition, the ministry listed some 90 items and services that it wants to….Read more

Nikkei led with a GOJ plan to offer tax incentives to defense contractors to help them implement tougher measures against cyberattacks from China, Russia, and other adversaries. Companies that install powerful antivirus software and multifactor authentication systems for accessing defense information will be given tax relief.

Sunday’s Yomiuri gave top play to a report that the Japanese and British governments are making final arrangements to merge their development plans for their next-generation fighter and jointly develop the fuselage for common use. The daily said the two governments made the decision because the functions they require for the next-generation fighter are almost the same and this will….Read more

By Takahashi Kosuke, Tokyo correspondent for Janes Defense Weekly   Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and his administration are mulling ways to radically strengthen Japan’s defense capabilities, and the key issue is the acquisition of the “ability to strike enemy bases” (counterstrike capabilities).   In his policy speech in December 2021, Prime Minister Kishida said that Japan “will realistically examine all….Read more

Collaborative development with the UK could be mutually beneficial   By Takahashi Kosuke, Special correspondent in Tokyo for Jane’s Defense Weekly   Japan has teamed up with the U.K. to start full-scale joint development of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s next-generation fighter aircraft, the “F-X.” In January 2022, IHI and Rolls-Royce, a major British aircraft engine manufacturer, began joint development….Read more

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan’s largest defense company, received from the Ministry of Defense central procurement program the largest contract amount in recent years, 459.1 billion yen in 2021, the highest figure for the first time in seven years. This information was contained in MOD’s response to an inquiry by Inoue Satoshi, a Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Upper House member.    ….Read more

Nikkei and Yomiuri wrote that during an LDP meeting yesterday, former Prime Minister Abe urged the Kishida administration to specify its goal for raising the nation’s defense budget to 2% of GDP in the FY2023 policy outline that the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy is expected to adopt formally in the near future. “The administration should demonstrate the nation’s….Read more