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Japan Forward
4 days ago
- Business
- Japan Forward
DSEI Japan: Showcasing Innovation Amid Rising Threats
DSEI Japan, the country's largest defense trade exhibition, was held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba from May 21 to 23. Originally launched in the United Kingdom, the event has taken place in Japan biannually since 2021, making this its third running. The 2025 event was the largest to date, featuring 471 exhibitors from 33 countries. Japanese companies comprised roughly 40% of all participants, reflecting the nation's growing interest in the defense industry. On May 22, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba became the first sitting Japanese leader to attend the exhibition. He delivered a speech stressing his commitment to defense equipment collaboration with allies and partner nations. "Advancing collaboration in equipment transfer, joint development, and joint production is crucial for promoting peace and stability in Japan and the region," he said. Ishiba highlighted China's "unilateral attempts to change the status quo" in the East and South China Seas, North Korea's ballistic missile launches, and expanding military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. "The security environment is becoming increasingly severe," he said. Kawasaki Heavy Industries' unmanned helicopter can carry 200 kg of cargo. (©Hidemitsu Kaito) Ishiba added, "Equipment cooperation will help strengthen deterrence not only for our country but also for our allies and partners." The Prime Minister also mentioned the significance of Japan, the UK, and Italy collaborating on the next-generation fighter jet, the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). "This will lay the foundation for broad coordination with the UK and Italy for generations to come," he said. After his speech, Ishiba toured the venue, observing the latest defense technology. The exhibition featured cutting-edge technologies, including gears, small arms, large ships, unmanned vehicles, and cybersecurity systems. Japan's Ministry of Defense drew particular attention with its "railgun" (electromagnetic cannon) designed to intercept hypersonic missiles. Japan's Ministry of Defense unveils "rail gun" at the DSEI exhibit (left) on May 21. (©Hidemitsu Kaito) Rising geopolitical tensions are boosting demand for unmanned aircraft and automated, labor-saving technologies. They are also accelerating innovation to enhance soldier safety. Sweden's SAAB showcased a training system for anti-tank recoilless rifles. Meanwhile, Turkish firm OTOKAR displayed an armored vehicle designed for countering anti-tank mines. A Ukrainian company unveiled a drone-based precision strike system, gaining attention for its technology honed through real combat experience. SAAB showcases a training system for firing anti-tank recoilless rifles. (©Hidemitsu Kaito) On May 21, United States Ambassador to Japan George Glass attended the opening ceremony at the US Pavilion. In his remarks, the ambassador emphasized the need for regional stability and stronger deterrence."Coordination among allies in the Indo-Pacific, joint development, and joint production are essential. Collaboration between American and Japanese defense industries is indispensable," he said. Ambassador George Glass speaks at the opening ceremony of the US Pavilion. (©Hidemitsu Kaito) Kawasaki Heavy Industries presented an unmanned helicopter capable of carrying up to 200 kilograms of supplies for potential use in island defense. Meanwhile, Rakuten Group emphasized its support for Ukrainian startups through partnerships with Ukrainian government agencies. The Rakuten and Ukrainian agencies' booth showcases support for startups. (©Hidemitsu Kaito) Defense Minister Gen Nakatani tours the exhibition on May 21. (©Hidemitsu Kaito) Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, who toured the venue on the first day, said, "The number of enlistments in the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) is declining, making the introduction of drones and labor-saving equipment essential." The SDF has a capacity of around 247,000 personnel, but is projected to face a shortfall of 23,000 by the end of 2024. Japan's defense system continues to evolve. The FY2025 defense budget is set at ¥8.4748 trillion JPY ($58.8 billion USD). This level represents a 9.7% increase from the previous year and reaches 1.8% of GDP. In 2020, the Air Self-Defense Force established a Space Operations Squadron to focus on outer space. Space surveillance has become increasingly vital, as evidenced by foreign firms capturing real-time satellite images of a North Korean destroyer grounding during its launch ceremony. A model of the next-generation fighter jet being jointly developed by Japan, the UK, and Italy. (©Hidemitsu Kaito) The next-generation fighter jet under development, GCAP, mentioned by Ishiba, is expected to outperform the American stealth fighter F-35. However, as China and Russia rapidly expand their military power, Japan must further strengthen its defense capabilities. ( Read this in Japanese ) Author: Hidemitsu Kaito
India.com
25-05-2025
- India.com
This country achieved success where US failed by building ‘high-power' railgun, country is..., not Russia, China, UK, France, Germany, India, Pakistan
(State-of-the-art railgun displayed at DSEI Japan defense exhibition. | GABRIEL DOMINGUEZ) New Delhi: Ever since the twin tragedies struck Japan on 6 and 9 August, 1945 in the form of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the island nation never went for the development of weapons and military systems on a large scale. Instead, it focused on experimenting and developing new and better technologies for the benefit of humanity. It worked quietly on building new, improved infrastructure which the world swears by. DSEI Japan 2025 With the rapid and strategic changes in the geopolitics and equation around the world, Japan is now out with 'DSEI Japan'. DSEI Japan is the only large-scale, fully integrated defence event to take place in Japan, providing unprecedented levels of access into the Japanese and wider Asia-Pacific market. It was held at Makuhari Messe, Chiba from 21-23 May 2025 and attracted 471 firms from 33 countries, including 169 from Japan alone. Japan's revolutionary railgun It is here that Tokyo exhibited its trailblazing railgun. The railgun weapon was considered unfeasible and impossible to achieve even by the mighty United States. But before delving into the USA-Japan story, let's tell you that at DSEI, Japan exhibited high-powered lasers, missiles, drones, trainer jets, and many other new defense platforms. This surely makes one wonder if the country has radically changed its defence policies with North Korea and China as its neighbours? Futuristic weapon The main attraction at the expo that created a lot of curiosity and interest is the 'futuristic railgun' that its makers believe can even shoot down hypersonic missiles. The railgun was test-fired by the Japanese Navy for the first time last year and Tokyo released a few images in April. DSEI was perhaps the first public display of the gun. In fact, railgun, though described as futuristic, was conceptualised during the 1920s, and many countries, including China, France, Germany, and India, have tried building one. The USA, arguably the most powerful military in the world, tried its luck at this weapon but abandoned its plans in 2021 after encountering multiple tech hurdles. But look here, Japan turned it upside down and Tokyo succeeded, where Washington failed. The Chinese connection We cannot leave behind China. While America halted its mission, China and Japan continued the work on railguns and in February last year, China claimed a breakthrough. Feng Junhong-led team and the National Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Energy at the Naval University of Engineering published a paper in the Journal of the Naval University of Engineering in November. The team claimed that its research resulted in the metal shell fired from a railgun receiving stable signals from the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) developed and operated by China. The BeiDou consistently adjusted its flight path, maintaining an error of less than 15 meters (49 feet) 'until it hits its target.' 'Achieving such high accuracy at such high speeds is not easy, as the shell can travel 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) per second,' the report added. Unique antenna created by Chinese engineers Chinese engineers created a unique antenna that can resist intense electromagnetic radiation and receive clear signals from the BeiDou constellation's military frequency band. As for Japan, it started working on the railgun project in 2016. It has till date invested US$300 million and a prototype of the weapon is already undergoing trials aboard a Maritime Self-Defense Force test vessel. Analysts privy to the project and those present at the exposition are unanimous in their conviction that Tokyo's public unveiling of the railgun at the 2025 DSEI Japan shows that the country is confident in its technology and product reliability. How railguns work Even though the concept is about 100 years old and the world's top military power failed to realise its dream, the basic science behind railguns is quite simple. Railguns are guns but unlike conventional guns they don't use gunpowder. They use electricity and magnetism to launch projectiles at hypersonic speed. Let's go back to our school Physics classes A railgun has two parallel metal rails connected to a power source which are placed close together, with a conductive projectile (often a metal ball) between them. When the railgun is activated, a massive electric current flows through one rail, across the projectile, and back through the other rail, creating a complete circuit. This huge current generates a powerful magnetic field around the rails. According to a principle called the Lorentz force, when electricity flows through a conductor (the projectile) in a magnetic field, it creates a force that pushes the projectile forward at hypersonic speed, often exceeding Mach 5 (6174 kmph). A railgun uses an electromagnetic field to thrust the projectile forward to its target at incredibly high speed, Mach 5 (6174 kmph) which provides it with enough kinetic energy to destroy any potential target. They can reach a monstrous speed of Mach 8.8 (10866.2 kmph). Usually, the projectile could be any metal ball without any explosives. Due to the mind-blowing volume of kinetic energy used for the push, it has been compared to a meteor hitting the Earth. Put simply, a railgun converts electromagnetic energy into kinetic energy and uses that kinetic energy to destroy a target which could be a fighter jet, missile, drone, or ship.
Asia Times
25-05-2025
- Business
- Asia Times
Japan flexes military muscle at biggest-ever defense expo
This year's Japan's Defense Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition and conference, held from May 21-23 at Makuhari Messe near Tokyo, was the largest ever, attracting 471 companies, 169 from Japan and 302 from the US, the UK and 30 other countries. Reflecting the rapid advance of Japan's arms industry and the country's growing contribution to regional security and international military cooperation, this year's event was about 60% larger than last year's and about twice the size of the one held in 2023. A year ago, US Forces Japan Strategic Relations Officer Tim Haffner noted that 'DSEI brought industry, policy, and strategic leaders together in a collaborative forum to discuss regional security issues for the first time in Japan. This was a pivotal event, signaling Japan as a leader in defense technology and security partnership.' This year's turnout demonstrates that it most certainly was. Billed as 'the only large-scale, fully integrated defense event in the country,' the exhibition featured a very wide range of defense products, from ammunition and armored vehicles to communications and target identification systems, field medical supplies, and small, medium and heavy caliber weapons. Models of Japan's Mogami warship, underwater drones, railgun and Type-12 missiles attracted a lot of attention, as did the GCAP (Global Combat Air Program) next-generation fighter jet being developed by Japan, the UK and Italy. For Japan's Ministry of Defence and defense industry, it was an unprecedented marketing opportunity. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba visited and spoke at the exhibition, the first sitting Japanese prime minister to do so. 'We are currently facing the most severe and complex security environment since the end of the Second World War,' he said. 'Today's Ukraine could be East Asia tomorrow.' Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani, who delivered a keynote address at the conference, said that he hoped the event would 'provide a new opportunity for cooperation and exchange between national delegations and companies, help sustain defense industry development, drive innovation and promote peace and stability.' Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) executive Katsuyuki Nabeta told the press that, 'With today's increasingly uncertain security environment, I believe we must respond not just domestically, but with a broader international perspective. We are pleased to have the opportunity to showcase our technologies and reach a wider audience.' MHI is the prime contractor for Mogami-class frigates and the leading Japanese company in the GCAP project. BAE Systems and Leonardo are its British and Italian counterparts. The conference, which also ran for three days, also included presentations by senior defense officials, ambassadors and defense industry executives from Japan, the US, the UK, Italy, Germany, Australia and Singapore. They addressed the issues of maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific, keeping pace with emerging threats, developing new technologies, strengthening the defense industrial base and enhancing defense industry cooperation, cybersecurity, the use of AI to improve decision-making on the battlefield and expanding surveillance capabilities in space. One section of the conference was dedicated to the progress of the GCAP and related supply chain opportunities. Senior executives from the GCAP Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency and International Government Organization, Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co (the umbrella organization for Japanese participation in the project), BAE Systems and Leonardo spoke on this topic, demonstrating its importance. In an article entitled 'Doubts about Trump hang in background of weapons show,' Japan's Asahi Shimbun reported that an unnamed Japanese Defense Ministry source had said that 'Trump's unpredictability has created unease about relying on US-made weapons and security arrangements,' and that 'European countries in particular are beginning to seek security that does not depend on the United States, and they are likely to move away from the US in arms trading.' Speaking at the event, the German ambassador to Japan, Petra Sigmund, said that, 'Germany is increasingly looking to Japan as an arms provider, whom we can trust as a co-developer with similar strengths and similar needs. Also, as a potential procurement partner, in order to be able to scale up production to cut time and to reduce cost.' Sigmund added that Germany is particularly eager to collaborate in the development of 'unmanned systems, drones, stand-off weapons, missiles, air defense, cyberspace, as well as maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.' He also noted that, 'Since 2021, Germany has gradually increased its security engagement here in the [Indo-Pacific] region. We have sent naval vessels, participated in multinational naval and air force exercises both in Japan, Australia and in India.' Professor Mohd Faiz Abdullah, chairman of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies of Malaysia, provided a different perspective. The great powers, he said, are conducting 'minilaterals,'which they claim are for 'global governance, but it's about containment really,' and 'not conducive to peace and stability.' The world, Abdullah concluded, is entering a period of 'unfettered competition…where a lot of parties are going for the killing zone.' But Lieutenant General Sir Tom Copinger-Symes, Deputy Commander of UK Strategic Command, stated that, 'We must move beyond transactional relationships between defense and industry… We need to redraw the boundaries of national security… We now live in what we could describe as a state of persistent competition, punctuated by episodic crises, and under the constant shadow of potential major conflict… we must innovate together, or we will lose together.' Meanwhile, on May 21, a symposium on the topic of Japan's defense industry was held at the Global Front conference facility at Meiji University in Tokyo. Led by military historian Professor Atsushi Koketsu, the symposium featured an address by Professor Christopher Hughes of the University of Warwick, UK, on the topic 'Japan's Defence Industrial Strategy and Fighter Aircraft Production: Striving for Tier-One Status.' Starting with the observation that Japan has previously been seen as an exemplary model of a non-great power able to indigenize defence technology, Hughes stated that it clearly maintains this ambition. Despite anti-militaristic constraints, including Article 9 of its Constitution, which renounces 'war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes,' post-WWII limits on weapons production and arms export bans, Japan has consistently maintained the following rationales for defense production: Deterrence capabilities and specific defense needs Bargaining power in its alliance with the US and internationally Self-sufficiency and ability to respond to national emergencies Industrial policy through dual-use technology Hughes emphasized that Japanese policymakers use 'techno-nationalism' to avoid second-tier status. At the same time, Japan limited its defense budget by embedding the defense sector into its civilian sector. This allowed it to avoid the creation of a military-industrial complex, but also led to fragmentation, inefficiency and low profitability, while export restrictions cut off access to international cooperation and markets. Serious attempts to rectify these defects began with the adoption of 'Three Principles on Defense Equipment Transfers' under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2014. These allowed arms transfers if they contributed to 'the active promotion of peace, international cooperation, or Japan's security,' provided they were not destined for countries involved in conflict, with onward shipment to third parties subject to Japanese government control. The next big step in Japan's military reform came in December 2022, when the cabinet of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida approved a new National Security Strategy. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs announcement noted that 'the very foundation of the international order is being shaken and the world stands at a historic crossroads… [with Japan] finding itself in the midst of the most severe and complex security environment since the end of WWII…' The new National Security Strategy was accompanied by two other documents, the National Defense Strategy and the Defense Buildup Program. The latter includes building up the capabilities of Japan's Self-Defense Forces in the areas of stand-off defense, integrated air and missile defense, unmanned defense and cross-domain capabilities, including ground, maritime, air, space, cyber and electromagnetic operations. The Japanese government also committed itself to raising the defense budget from 1% to 2% of GDP by 2027, increased weapons systems procurement as a percentage of the budget, raised profit margins on defense contracts to stop private companies from abandoning the sector and stepped up defense cooperation with Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia. Freed from previous limits, Japanese defense contractors began to actively pursue export contracts, some small – e.g., patrol boats for the Philippines and Vietnam – and some large. An attempt to sell Soryu-class submarines to Australia fell through. Attempts to sell Mogami-class frigates to Australia and Indonesia are underway. Hughes also put considerable emphasis on GCAP, noting that it is an equal partnership with full technology sharing and 'freedom to modify.' While others have expressed doubts, he believes that the British government is committed to the project, a view that received support at the Japan-Italy-UK leaders meeting last November. Hughes has been pursuing the subject for a long time. More than 20 years ago, he published 'Japan's Re-emergence as a 'Normal' Military Power?' while his latest book is entitled 'Japan as a Global Military Power: New Capabilities, Alliance Integration, Bilateralism-Plus.' Follow this writer on X: @ScottFo83517667
Mint
22-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Japan's Ishiba Calls for Closer Weapons Development With Allies
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Japan and its allies should deepen cooperation in the development of weapons and other defense equipment as threats mount across the Asia-Pacific region. 'It is difficult for any one country to defend itself alone, and this may be true for the US as well,' Ishiba said in a speech on Thursday at a major defense industry conference just outside Tokyo. 'We should establish a strong relationship with our allies of defense equipment cooperation, including the transfer of such equipment, joint development and joint production,' he said. Trump administration plans to develop the 'Golden Dome' missile defense system to defend the US from potential attack highlight growing global concerns over the missile threat from countries such as China and North Korea. Japan is also plowing money into defense systems, including a joint project with the US to develop an interceptor to destroy hypersonic missiles, which have been flight tested by China and which are hard for existing defense systems to defend against. Japan is aiming to boost its defense industry by means of a sharp increase in military spending. In 2022, Tokyo pledged ¥43 trillion to a military build-up that would span five years, aiming to raise defense spending to around 2% of gross domestic product from a long-held stance of keeping it around 1%. In another international partnership with the UK and Italy, Japan is developing a sixth generation fighter jet that is scheduled for deployment in 2035. The pace of technological change in military equipment and the financial burden involved mean that countries with similar values have to work together, Ishiba said. 'It's become impossible for one country to bear the costs and the risk of research and development alone,' he said in a keynote address at the Defense and Security Equipment International conference. 'Technology is advancing rapidly, and it is not an overstatement to say that technology used in the morning is obsolete by the evening,' he said. DSEI is Japan's largest defense industry conference, featuring global defense contractors and a growing number of Japanese companies entering the sector or expanding their defense businesses. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Star
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Japan's Ishiba calls for closer weapons development with allies
TOKYO: Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (pic) said Japan and its allies should deepen cooperation in the development of weapons and other defence equipment as threats mount across the Asia-Pacific region. "It is difficult for any one country to defend itself alone, and this may be true for the US as well,' Ishiba said in a speech on Thursday (May 22) at a major defence industry conference just outside Tokyo. "We should establish a strong relationship with our allies of defense equipment cooperation, including the transfer of such equipment, joint development and joint production,' he said. Trump administration plans to develop the "Golden Dome' missile defense system to defend the US from potential attack highlight growing global concerns over the missile threat from countries such as China and North Korea. Japan is also plowing money into defense systems, including a joint project with the US to develop an interceptor to destroy hypersonic missiles, which have been flight tested by China and which are hard for existing defense systems to defend against. Japan is aiming to boost its defense industry by means of a sharp increase in military spending. In 2022, Tokyo pledged ¥43 trillion (US$300 billion) to a military build-up that would span five years, aiming to raise defense spending to around 2% of gross domestic product from a long-held stance of keeping it around 1%. In another international partnership with the UK and Italy, Japan is developing a sixth generation fighter jet that is scheduled for deployment in 2035. The pace of technological change in military equipment and the financial burden involved mean that countries with similar values have to work together, Ishiba said. "It's become impossible for one country to bear the costs and the risk of research and development alone,' he said in a keynote address at the Defense and Security Equipment International conference. "Technology is advancing rapidly, and it is not an overstatement to say that technology used in the morning is obsolete by the evening,' he said. DSEI is Japan's largest defense industry conference, featuring global defense contractors and a growing number of Japanese companies entering the sector or expanding their defense businesses. - Bloomberg
