Last month, Japan and the United Kingdom agreed to jointly research new air-to-air missile technology. In an email interview, Yuzo Murayama, professor at the Graduate School of Business at Doshisha University, discussed Japan’s entry into the global defense market.
WPR: What defense technologies and capabilities does Japan have to offer on the global defense market?
Yuzo Murayama: Japan does not have many globally competitive defense-specific technologies or products. This is because Japanese weapons have not been tested in real battlefield environments due to the past ban on arms exports. There are exceptions, such as submarines that contain unique technologies. However, Japan is said to be more competitive in the field of military-applicable commercial technologies, also known as dual-use technologies, such as carbon fibers, sensors and high-performance electronics components. Japan is strong in this sector because it can utilize its strong commercial technology base, and globalized military production has been increasing the use of these commercial technologies due to their performance and price advantages.