Defense Equipment Trade Fair First in Japan?

Defense Equipment Trade Fair First in Japan? Nov 18 20:43

The first comprehensive trade fair in Japan, in which domestic and foreign companies display land, sea and air defense equipment and cutting-edge technologies, began on the 18th.

About 60 companies from Japan and 90 from overseas are exhibiting at the trade fair held over three days at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City.

At the venue, equipment and state-of-the-art technologies for the Self-Defense Forces and various military forces, such as unmanned underwater boats, research armored vehicles, and engines developed for unmanned aerial vehicles, are exhibited. Small and medium enterprises are also exhibiting.

The trade fair is the largest in the world, held once every two years in the United Kingdom. This time, Japan was chosen as the venue and was sponsored by the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and others.

According to the Ministry of Defense, it is the first time in Japan that a comprehensive trade fair covering the fields of land, sea, air, space and cyber will be opened.

Defense equipment in Japan after the Government of Japan reviewed the “Three Principles for Weapons Export”, which had banned the export of weapons five years ago, and allowed the export of equipment under strict screening. There is a growing movement to hold trade fairs.

On the other hand, to ensure that Japanese defense equipment does not foster international conflicts, it is also important to ensure transparency during export and to strictly manage Japanese technology.

Why in Japan?

The reason why Japan was chosen as the venue for the world's largest trade fair this time is due to the growing defense budget and high technical capabilities.

The budget request for the next year's budget plan by the Ministry of Defense will be the largest ever, 5.30 trillion yen, and according to the sponsoring company, Asia, especially Japan, is a defensive market.

This time, a German company responsible for transporting ammunition on display at a trade show said, “I came to appeal to hear that this is the first exhibition to be held. Japan expects the defense market to grow further, ”he said.

In addition, the representative of an Israeli state-owned company that produces drones and radars said, “Japan is a threat of ballistic missiles from North Korea, which is the same as us, and we have a solution. Is expecting because the defense budget is bulging, and there are many procurements from the United States, but I would like to see other countries as well.I want to appeal to the Self-Defense Forces, but I want to do joint development with Japanese companies more than that I was talking. "

In addition, interest in high technology centered on SMEs, the expert said, “For overseas buyers, the opportunity to open Japanese equipment and technology that could not be exported to the outside has emerged. "Gathering information has become very important."

The background of the event

The reason behind the movement to hold the defense equipment trade fair in Japan is the “Three Principles for Transfer of Defense Equipment” established in place of the “Three Principles for Weapon Export”.

It was decided by the Cabinet five years ago that it could cooperate with the United States and other countries in the field of security and strengthen the foundation of Japan's defense industry through the export and joint development of equipment.

Only in cases where it contributes to peaceful contributions, international cooperation, and Japan's security, it has been approved for export under strict screening, which encourages holding trade fairs in Japan and exhibiting Japanese companies at international trade fairs. It has become a form.

On the other hand, exports of ships and aircraft developed in Japan, which the Ministry of Defense aims at, are not progressing. Exports are actually carried out based on the three new principles, and what is announced is the parts and usage of missiles. It is a lost training machine.

In addition, we were aiming for joint development of a new submarine to be introduced by Australia, but as a result of selection, it was not selected as a joint development country.

SMEs that exhibited

SMEs in Japan involved in the development of electronic equipment and the production of special fibers are exhibiting at the trade fair venue.

Among them, a software development company in Nagoya City with 14 employees exhibited their own warning and surveillance system.

This system detects intruders by using special sensors that detect vibrations even in poorly sighted locations, and analyzes the vibrations and sounds generated during shooting to identify the launch location.

Up until now, we have dealt with the Ministry of Defense, but decided to exhibit to export our system overseas.

Mr. Takanori Saito, General Manager of Planning and Development Department, said, “It is originally intended to ensure the safety and security of citizens, so I would like to send it to Japan and the world in the form of safe equipment rather than equipment. Counter-terrorism and border disputes I think it can be used in other ways. "

On the other hand, he says that there is an opinion of pros and cons of exporting equipment overseas, “I don't worry about thinking and beliefs about protecting the lives of people,” he says.

More than 100 people, including German and Saudi government officials, visited the software development company's booth in the first 4 hours.

Mr. Saito said, “More people visited than we thought, and we received talks about technical alliances and overseas exhibitions.”

In addition, an electronics manufacturer in Ota-ku, Tokyo exhibited equipment that can mass-produce special fibers that adsorb fine sand and viruses.

Representative Kunihiro Shinji said, “I will enter the defense industry, so I felt it was difficult, but I exhibited as part of expanding sales channels.”

Protest against the "war begins here"

Outside the venue, a rally was held at noon on the 18th to hold the trade fair, and about 400 people gathered at the organizer's announcement.

Participants raised their voices protesting with a banner stating, "I don't need a weapons fair! The war starts here."

A 79-year-old woman in Chiba City said, “My father was killed in war and I opposed the war if I didn't want my children to feel the same way. Selling weapons is against it because it leads to war.” It was.

A 74-year-old man in Chiba City said, “Selling weapons doesn't look like Japan, which hasn't been a war for more than 70 years, and I want you to do business in a more peaceful field.”

A 54-year-old woman in Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture, who lived in the UK for 25 years until last year, said, `` I know the weapons trade fair held in the UK, but it does not lead to peace with just a money-making event. '' It was.

Expert "The government collects risks and gives polite explanations"

Professor Takushoku University's Prof. Yosuke Sato, who is familiar with security policies and the defense industry, said that “the defense equipment transfer has not expanded so much since the three principles of defense equipment transfer were established. `` I think that the real sense of equipment transfer is that SMEs are first incorporated into the global defense supply chain, '' he said. doing.

Also, regarding the risk of Japanese equipment and technology going overseas, “the risk of being used in an unintended way after the equipment transfer has changed, as the international situation and the policies of the partner country have changed. It is important that the government collects risks in advance and uses them as a decision-making tool to decide whether to export or not, and the government has taken care of putting SMEs into the international defense equipment network. It is necessary to go. "

On top of that, "The politics must carefully explain to the public that the way Japanese companies are developing in the current security environment bears these risks and benefits." He points out that polite explanations are indispensable.