Japan's military seeks international expertise in missiles and cybersecurity technology at DSEI Japan 2025.

 

Japan has an expanded defence budget and is looking for international expertise specifically in cybersecurity, satellite communications, space domain awareness, and advanced weaponry. 

For international defence companies, these priorities represent tangible opportunities for meaningful collaboration and strategic growth. However, it is essential to understand Japan's main government organisations: Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA). DSEI Japan 2025, importantly, has full endorsement from all three.

Understanding ATLA

ATLA is a division of Japan’s Ministry of Defense (JMoD) that plays a crucial role in driving the country’s defence modernisation. With 1,800 staff, the agency manages defence equipment, develops new technologies and builds international partnerships, making it a primary point of contact for global defence collaboration.

ATLA’s scope spans Japan's entire defence sector, maintaining technological capabilities through projects like the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) with Italy and the UK, which develops sixth-generation fighter aircraft. 

The agency streamlines equipment purchases via centralised procurement processes, such as a JPY155.177 million contract with Boeing Japan for combat uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) simulations, and strengthens defence cooperation through joint hypersonic weapons research. 

Annual projects like GCAP’s multiyear collaboration (2023–2035) directly link Japanese innovations to global partners.

Taking inspiration from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in the US, ATLA is establishing a research institute focused on pushing technological boundaries. Its five-year, USD26 billion research and development (R&D) investment focuses on hypersonic defence, drone technology and next-generation fighter aircraft. 

At DSEI Japan 2025, ATLA representatives will be focusing on building business connections that support these goals. They are particularly interested in partnerships that can strengthen Japan's capabilities in missile systems, autonomous technologies and advanced electronics. For global companies operating in these areas, ATLA offers clear pathways to meaningful technical collaboration.

METI: bridging industry and defence

From its Kasumigaseki headquarters in Tokyo, METI oversees Japan’s defence export system through its Security Export Control Division. Approximately 120 specialised staff process applications and evaluate compliance with international trade regulations, balancing opportunities for defence collaboration with national security considerations. 

However, significant export cases, such as advanced weapons systems or sensitive technology transfers, are escalated to the National Security Council under the Cabinet Secretariat for strategic review. Routine administrative approvals (e.g., equipment repairs or non-sensitive parts exports) are managed through METI’s 12 regional offices.

The ministry has designated several sectors as essential to Japan's future: semiconductors, aircraft components, machine tools, industrial robots and critical minerals. Each represents an area where international expertise can meet Japanese innovation, which drives much of METI's current agenda. 

Joint committees with JMoD now specifically target start-up involvement in the defence sector, creating new avenues for technological development. These initiatives represent METI's broader vision: a defence industrial base that combines traditional strength with modern entrepreneurial energy.

METI's new Trade and Economic Security Policy Bureau works hand-in-hand with the National Security Secretariat, focusing on challenges that blur the line between economic and defence interests. Supply chain resilience has become a particular priority, with METI leading working groups and international dialogues on this critical issue.

For international defence companies, understanding METI's role will open many doors. Through the US-Japan Defense Industry Dialogue and various bilateral initiatives, the ministry actively seeks partners who can strengthen Japan's industrial capabilities. This is particularly true in dual-use technologies, where METI's expertise in both civilian and military applications proves invaluable.

MoFA’s expanding role in defence

MoFA functions as the primary diplomatic institution managing the country’s international defence partnerships and security initiatives. The ministry's scope expanded significantly with the 2023 establishment of the Official Security Assistance programme, which operates independently from the traditional Official Development Assistance initiative. 

This programme focuses specifically on supporting partner nations' defence capabilities through material support, equipment provision and infrastructure development. It’s an expanding role that reflects Japan's increasing focus on defence cooperation as a pillar of its foreign policy strategy.

MoFA's defence industry engagement has multiple layers. The ministry coordinates extensively with South Korea and Australia through bilateral security agreements while simultaneously managing trilateral frameworks with the US. These arrangements include the Japan-US-Republic of Korea and Japan-US-Australia partnerships, which focus on shared security challenges and defence technology cooperation. Defence equipment cooperation extends beyond Indo-Pacific partners to include European nations, particularly the UK and France. These partnerships facilitate joint weapons development, technology transfer and shared defence research initiatives under Japan's revised Three Principles framework, which governs the exportation of defence equipment and technology.

MoFA maintains direct operational coordination with JMoD, particularly in:

• Facilitating international defence equipment transfers

• Managing diplomatic aspects of joint development projects

• Coordinating cross-border security cooperation activities

• Implementing strategic defence agreements

DSEI Japan – where Indo-Pacific defence innovators meet

DSEI Japan brings together the region's most influential defence professionals and decision-makers, from military leadership to industry innovators and government representatives. Hosting over 500 VIPs and 1,500 military attendees in 2023, the event's proven track record demonstrates its important role in connecting international companies with the Japanese market.

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