Japan, Germany pursue defence equipment projects

Japan and Germany have outlined a commitment to expand co-operation in defence equipment and technologies in line with a recently signed information-sharing accord.

The commitment was announced during meetings between the two countries’ respective foreign and defence ministers in Tokyo on 13 April. An official statement said Japan and Germany will “further promote security co-operation including in the field of defence equipment”.

The statement said this co-operation will be supported by a ‘Japan-Germany Information Protection Agreement’, which was signed in March.

This accord is designed to enable the two countries to share data and analysis about the performance and specifications of each other’s military equipment and systems.

On signing this agreement, the German government said it provides an opportunity for the two countries to co-operate on space, cyber, and electromagnetics.

These three technology domains have been highlighted by Japan as priorities in terms of military capabilities over the coming decade.

Berlin also stated that the sharing agreement with Japan is consistent with Germany’s Indo-Pacific strategy, which was published in October 2020 and is aimed at deepening the European country’s partnerships across the region in sectors including defence and security.

In 2017 Japan and Germany also signed a Defence Equipment and Technology Transfer Agreement. This accord enabled Japan to showcase its Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) at the ILA Berlin Air Show in April 2018 to customers in Europe.