Defense industry of Japan

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Type 90
Tank

The Japanese defense industry is the part of the

Japanese economy responsible for the procurement of military technology, primarily for the nation's own Self-Defense Forces, largely due to a strict policy on national exports
.

AH-64D (DJP) attached to the 1st Airborne Brigade
January 2012

Postwar history

Following

Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security Between the United States and Japan
.

Following accusations that Japan was supplying napalm for U.S. forces during the Vietnam War, the Three Arms Exports Ban was implemented in 1967 to prevent arms export to countries who fit any of the three criteria: countries in the Eastern Bloc, countries under an arms embargo by the United Nations Security Council, or countries that are currently involved in, or likely to be involved in an international conflict.[1]

In July 1970, then-

Nakasone Yasuhiro established five objectives for the defense industry:[2]

  1. to maintain Japan's industrial base for national security
  2. to acquire equipment from Japan's domestic research and development and production efforts
  3. to use civilian industries for domestic arms production
  4. to set long-term goals for research and development and production
  5. to introduce competition into defense production

By the late 1970s, indigenous suppliers had developed and produced aircraft, tanks, artillery, and major surface and underwater naval combatants for the JSDF. Highly sophisticated weaponry, such as the

E-2C Hawkeye
.

In 1976, the Three Arms Exports Ban turned into a complete total ban of Japanese arms export, with the exception of joint-development with the United States.

In the late 1980s, the defense industry, limited by the lack of research and development, inadequate testing equipment, restricted exports, and no

defense budget were allotted to procurement. There have been calls for the relaxation of the arms export ban. In 1988, a secret memorandum circulated among defense contractors estimated that lifting the export ban would result in Japan capturing 45% of the world's tank and self-propelled artillery market, 40% of military electronic sales, and 60% of naval ship construction.[2] The arms export ban was never lifted and by the post-Cold War era Japan's defense industry began to stagnate due to a combination of decreasing military budget, arms export ban and increasing research and development cost while maintaining a static R&D budget.[1][3]

The defense industry began to revitalize when Prime Minister

Shinzō Abe took office a second time in 2012. Abe's defense policy called for an increase in military capabilities for Japan to better defend itself and its American ally in the face of growing Chinese influence and military buildup. To this end, the military budget began to increase from 2013 and onward, while reforms were implemented to coincide with Abe's defense policy. Two of the most important reforms for the defense industry included the lifting of the self imposed arms export ban in 2014 and the establishment of the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) in 2015.[4]

Challenges and potentials

Although Japan's defense industry produces the majority of Japan's military technology and is recognized for its quality,[by whom?] the defense industry has historically faced head winds that prevented it from obtaining substantial growth. These headwinds include high production cost, low unit production, small domestic market, export ban, limited R&D budget and general pacifist views in Japan.[1][3][4]

Production

Despite producing and supplying arms to

example needed][4][8] Through ATLA, the Ministry of Defense (MOD) has actively sought research collaborations with various research institutes, universities and companies to utilize advance civilian technology.[9]

FS-X program

Mitsubishi F-2
Main article: Mitsubishi F-2

The FS-X program highlighted some of the struggles the Japanese defense industry faced.

The program originally aimed for the development of an indigenous fighter jet to succeed the Mitsubishi F-1. Japanese defense contractors sought for domestic development to develop skills in manufacturing future aircraft and to preserve Japan's aviation industry. However, under U.S. pressure, the program switched to a jointly developed fighter based on the F-16.

The program drew criticism in Japan due to the government bowing to U.S. pressure. Japanese defense contractors and lawmakers were irate that the U.S. would gain access to advanced Japanese technology through the deal and local industries would not be able to profit as much compared to domestically developing the aircraft. There was also the belief that a domestically designed fighter would be superior to a modified F-16 design.[citation needed]

Further criticism was drawn from delays in the F-2's production, high production cost (about four times more expensive than a Block 50/52 F-16), and reduction of units from 141 aircraft to 94.

X-2 Shinshin

Main article:
Mitsubishi X-2

The development of the Mitsubishi X-2 is to help develop technologies and knowledge needed to produce a sixth-generation stealth fighter to succeed the Mitsubishi F-2. The X-2 made its historic maiden flight on 22 April 2016, cementing Japan as the fourth country in the world to fly their own stealth jet. The X-2's development is seen[by whom?] as a sign of Japan's aerospace and defense industry's revitalization. The MOD emphasized that the procurement of the future stealth fighter will be led by Japan, but international collaboration is still a possibility.[10]

Arms export

Main article: Japanese Arms Export Ban

For Japan, the benefits of exporting arms to another country includes improving economy of scale in the defense industry, lowering unit cost of the product and strengthen international relationships.[8] Following the end of the self imposed ban in 2014, Japan began to promote its arms to the international market and has attracted a number of countries interest in Japanese arms.[11] Japan secured its first export on 17 July 2014 by supplying gyroscopes to the U.S. to develop PAC-2 missiles for Qatar.[12] On 13 May 2015, Japan hosted its first military trade fair.[13] Despite the efforts, Japan continues to struggle with securing a major export deal. One issue Japan faces when exporting arms is the product's high unit cost and unique domestic requirements that might not be favorable for outside customers. In this regard, some have noted that Japan's defense industry suffers from Galápagos syndrome.[4][5][6] Another issue Japan faces is its lack of experience in exporting arms, exporting untested products and facing major competition against established suppliers.[8][11][14][15] There is also hesitation for Japanese companies to participate due to arms sales representing a small amount of revenue and/or fear of reputation damage at home by being labeled as "merchants of death".[8][11]

SEA 1000 Future Submarine Program

Main article: Attack-class submarine

Japan's unsuccessful attempt at exporting the

ThyssenKrupp AG (TKMS). One major requirement for the submarine program is that the submarines are to be built domestically to support local industries and jobs. Japan was initially reluctant to build submarines overseas and transfer technologies to Australia to aid in the future submarine's development. DCNS and TKMS agreed to the Australian government's demand for domestic production, which coincided with public interest. Another issue Japan faced was the Sōryū-class inability to meet Australia's submarine requirement. It has been pointed out that the Sōryū-class has a shorter range and speed than the Collins-class, Japanese submarines possess a shorter service life than Australia's, and there are uncertainties on whether the Sōryū-class can be modified for Australia's requirements.[citation needed] Ultimately, Japan's loss highlighted the country's over-reliance on political support from Tony Abbott (which ended with Malcolm Turnbull replacing him), inability to appeal to the Australian public, and inexperience exporting arms, allowing overseas production and modifying domestic weapons for foreign customers.[16][17][18]

References

  1. ^ a b c Gray, Gavan (1 October 2011). "Japan's Defence Industry: Pacifism, Pragmatism and Necessity" (PDF). Osaka Jogakuin University. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Dolan, Ronald E.; Worden, Robert L., eds. (1992). Japan: A Country Study. Federal Research Division.
  3. ^ a b c d Ono, Masanori (2015). "Japan's Initiatives for Deepening Cooperation with Other Countries in the Areas of Defense Equipment and Technology" (PDF). Institute for National Strategic Studies National Defense University. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Sugai, Hiroyuki (October 2016). "Japan's future defense equipment policy" (PDF). Brookings. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  5. ^ a b Yeo, Mike (15 August 2018). "Japan's defense industry continues to grow. But is it in for rough seas?". Defense News. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  6. ^ a b Yeo, Mike (26 November 2018). "Japan at a crossroads: What's keeping its defense industry from growing?". Defense News. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  7. ^ "The Current Status of Defense Production and Technological Bases, and the Strategy on Defense Production and Technological Bases" (PDF). Ministry of Defense (Japan). Defense of Japan 2015. 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Japan: a new dawn of military innovation?". Army Technology. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Measures on Defense Equipment and Technology" (PDF). Ministry of Defense (Japan). Defense of Japan 2016. 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Medium Term Defense Program (FY 2019 - FY 2023)" (PDF). Ministry of Defense (Japan). 18 December 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  11. ^ a b c Jain, Purnendra (29 May 2018). "Japan open for arms business". East Asia Forum. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  12. ^ "Japan to supply arms parts to U.S., sensor technology to UK". Reuters. 17 July 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  13. ^ "Japan Hosts First Global Arms Fair". Defense News. Agence France-Presse. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  14. ^ Jain, Purnendra (17 February 2017). "Japan: The World's Next Big Arms Dealer?". The National Interest. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  15. ^ Soble, Jonathan (12 July 2015). "With Ban on Exports Lifted, Japan Arms Makers Cautiously Market Wares Abroad". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  16. ^ Gady, Franz-Stefan (29 April 2016). "Why Japan lost Aussie sub bid". The Japan Times. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  17. ^ Simpson, James (9 May 2016). "How Japan Flubbed a Huge Australian Submarine Deal". War is Boring. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  18. ^ Tran, Pierre (21 November 2017). "How a French firm beat out Japanese companies in Australia's submarine tender". Defense News. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
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