Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) – an agency under the Ministry of Defense (MoD) – is spearheading the country’s efforts to promote its defence technology in the Asia Pacific region.
The country lifted a long-standing defence export ban in April 2014, effectively allowing industry to enter joint military development programmes and potentially export its defence products and technologies. However, much work remains to be done to overturn decades of seclusion from the international market.
“We understand that there is a general lack of understanding about the capabilities of our defence industry and will have to work very hard to communicate this to the rest of the world,” a senior ATLA official said to Bilingual Show Daily News. “Conversely, we also need to increase our own understanding of the capabilities and requirements of other countries.”
To pursue these imperatives, ATLA is collaborating with domestic enterprises – from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to major industry primes – to boost innovation and spur the development of the country’s defence industrial base, while increasing global awareness of the advantages that these companies can bring to the market.
The agency is also facilitating equipment transfers to bolster the capabilities of Japan’s partners, with the most recent example being the donation of five Beechcraft TC-90 trainer aircraft to the Philippines to bolster that nation’s maritime security.
Exhibiting in region for the first time, ATLA is supporting a diverse range of Japanese companies which are promoting products ranging from military platforms such as the Kawasaki Heavy Industries C-2 transport aircraft, P-1 maritime patrol aircraft, and the US-2 amphibian aircraft, to dual-use technologies such as its Type-07 Mobility Support Bridge and Mobility Water Purification System.
“With natural and man-made disasters commonly occurring in the region, we believe that there will be significant interest in such dual-use technologies as countries look to increase their ability to mitigate damage,” the official said.
ATLA said it will continue to promote Japanese products and technologies, and plans to maintain its presence at defence exhibitions in Asia and Europe.
