Interview With Fukawa Hideki, Director of the Defense Equipment Cooperation Planning Office at the Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Agency (ATLA), Japan Ministry of Defense.
In a candid discussion, Fukawa Hideki, Director of the Defense Equipment Cooperation Planning Office at the Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Agency (ATLA) within the Ministry of Defense of Japan, shed light on the country’s defense industries and their ongoing efforts to secure markets for their products. Amidst evolving geopolitical dynamics, Japan’s defense sector has been actively seeking avenues to export its advanced defense technology and equipment while adhering to stringent regulations and international norms.
Hideki outlined the current challenges facing Japan’s defense industries, emphasizing the delicate balance between promoting exports and upholding Japan’s principles and commitment to international peace and security. With a focus on enhancing defense cooperation and interoperability with key partners, Japan aims to navigate complex geopolitical landscapes while ensuring the responsible export of defense equipment. This interview delves into the strategic initiatives undertaken by Japan’s defense sector to expand its market presence while addressing the multifaceted challenges inherent in the global defense industry.
What can you tell me about Japan’s Ministry of Defense’s participation in this year’s Singapore Airshow?
The Singapore Airshow is one of the biggest events in the region, and Singapore is a very important country for Japan to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific. (As such) defense equipment transfers are one part of the policy measures to realize our intention.
That’s why we are here to demonstrate Japan’s technological capabilities in the defense sector.
Japan has made some progress regarding defense equipment export to some Southeast Asian countries. What drove this change?
The Japanese government changed our defense policy last December so now we can export more (types of) defense equipment compared to the past. Now since the tension in the region tends to increase, we’re also wondering how we can support a stable security situation here.
So defense equipment transfer is a very good measure to support like-minded countries in this region.
Besides the aforementioned equipment transfer, like radar for the Philippines, is there any other progress that you can share?
Although they have yet to be concluded, there have been quite a lot of discussions between the government of Japan, Japanese industries, and foreign governments in this matter.
Does this also mean that the barriers posed against Japanese companies to export defense equipment have been lifted?
The barriers that Japanese defense companies are facing now are mostly because they do not have enough experience, especially to collaborate with other countries in the defense arena. However, they are seeking to talk with foreign governments to realize a stable security situation.
So this airshow is one of the good opportunities for Japanese companies to understand global defense market practices.
How do you view the good reputation of Japan-made defense hardware even though Japanese defense companies still need to gain more experience in the global market?
In general, I think it’s partly because of the popularity of Japanese commercial products, as well as the high technological content that sets Japan-made defense products apart.
Soon, I believe that Japan-made defense hardware could very well provide such technological edges to support our partner and like-minded countries.
What strategy will Japan adopt to face the competition in the global defense market?
The government of Japan and the industries have to collaborate to promote our defense products according to our intention to uphold (global) security. It is, of course, a bit different than some other major defense companies that can exploit the market without government backing.
On the other hand, the collaboration between the Japanese government and industries also means that we will fully support our defense industries. In short, we will create a synergy between the government of Japan, and our defense industries.
This is also a matter of practicality because, with this synergy, Japan’s Self-Defense Force can also provide training and support for friendly nations on how to operate our defense products.
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