U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee to be the Pentagon's top Asia official has urged Japan to ramp up its defense budget, saying Tokyo “has long underemphasized spending for its own defense.” https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/08/japan/japan-us-defense-spending-pentagon/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #usjapanrelations #donaldtrump #defense #budgets #shigeruishiba #defenseministry #indopacific #johnnoh #sanaetakaichi

In many other countries, startups producing defense-related technology would be unremarkable. But Japan has long had few startups and a taboo against the defense industry, including severe restrictions on arms exports. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/07/japan/society/japan-investment-defense-startups/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #defense #defenseministry #startups #airkamuy #sdf #sanaetakaichi #constitution

The Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency, marking 10 years since its founding, is playing a larger role as the control tower for the unified management of defense equipment research and development and exports. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/02/japan/defense-equipment-agency-role/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #atla #defense #gennakatani #defenseministry

Japan has completed its first-ever fighter jet deployment to Canada and Europe in a display of support for NATO partner countries as well as a demonstration of the Air Self-Defense Force’s operational capabilities. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/01/japan/atlantic-eagles-fighter-jet/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #asdf #defense #defenseministry #atlanticeagles

Japan would be a "capable participant" in the evolving U.S.-U.K.-Australia defense partnership, an unreleased U.S. State Department assessment to Congress has said. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/18/japan/japan-role-in-us-uk-australia-defense-pact/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #usjapanrelations #defense #defenseministry #sdf #aukus

China’s Defense Ministry on Tuesday offered the latest hint that its third and largest aircraft carrier could soon enter service, after it undergoes further testing and training in the disputed South China Sea. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/16/asia-pacific/china-fujian-aircraft-carrier-south-china-sea/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #china #aircraftcarriers #pla #southchinasea #taiwan #disputedislands #chinajapanrelations #defense #defenseministry

Astroscale Holdings, which had 30% of its record quarterly revenue in the first quarter come from defense contracts, expects satellite orders to rise under new space-defense guidelines from the U.K. and Japan. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/09/16/companies/astroscale-satellite-orders/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #companies #astroscale #satellites #uk #space #defense #defenseministry

Japan has successfully test-fired a railgun against a target vessel at sea, taking it a step closer to becoming the first nation to deploy the cutting-edge weapon system. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/11/japan/railgun-test-firing/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #defenseministry #defense #guns #msdf

The U.S. military is for the first time bringing some of its most advanced missile systems for keeping Chinese forces at bay to joint training with Japan, part of a gradual policy shift by Tokyo. What does this all mean? https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/10/japan/us-deploying-missiles-system-in-okinawa/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #usjapanrelations #us #missiles #defense #usmilitary #china #pla #sdf #defenseministry

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back have agreed to make mutual visits a regular practice and stake out areas of high-tech defense cooperation. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/08/japan/politics/japan-south-korea-defense-ministers/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #southkorea #southkoreajapanrelations #gennakatani #ahngyuback #defenseministry #defense #northkorea #shigeruishiba#leejaemyung

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and his Turkish counterpart have pledged to boost defense tie-ups between both countries as Tokyo weighs the possibility of purchasing drones from the NATO member. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/20/japan/politics/japan-turkey-defense-chiefs/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #turkeyjapanrelations #turkey #defense #drones #gennakatani #defenseministry #budgets

Japan’s successful offer of state-of-the-art warships to Australia will be a "model" case for future exports, senior defense officials say, as Tokyo eyes Southeast Asian nations as possible destinations. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/17/japan/japan-mogami-defense-exports-southeast-asia/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #japanaustraliarelations #defense #defenseministry #southeastasia #indopacific #australia

The Ground Self-Defense Force has completed relocating 17 Osprey tilt-rotor transport aircraft to a new camp in the city of Saga from Camp Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture, the Defense Ministry has said. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/13/japan/society/osprey-deployment-camp-saga-completed/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #sdf #gsdf #osprey #defenseministry #saga

Australia’s purchase of Japanese frigates marks a historic deal that boosts Japan’s defense industry and deepens shared strategic ties. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/editorials/2025/08/08/the-japan-and-australia-defense-deal/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #editorials #australia #australiajapanrelations #defense#mogami #sdf #msdf #defenseministry

The Defense Ministry deployed three state-of-the-art F-35B stealth fighters to the Air Self-Defense Force's Nyutabaru base in the town of Shintomi, Miyazaki Prefecture — the first deployment at an SDF base. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/08/japan/f-35b-stealth-fighters-deployed-to-miyazaki/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #asdf #stealthtech #fighterjets #miyazaki #defenseministry

Australia’s purchase of up to 11 Japanese-built Mogami-class frigates marks a milestone in Japan’s defense exports and deepens strategic ties. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/08/06/japan/japans-frigate-sale-to-australia/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #australia #australiajapanrelations #defense#mogami #sdf #msdf #defenseministry

Australia selecting a Japanese warship for its next frigate class could be a watershed moment for Japan’s defense industry as Tokyo aims for greater military cooperation and industrial tie-ups with allies and partners. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/06/japan/australia-japan-ship-deal-defense-industry/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #defense #australiajapanrelations #australia #sdf #defenseministry#mogami #mitsubishiheavyindustries

Australia will purchase 11 Japanese-made frigates in what will be Tokyo’s biggest-ever postwar defense contract, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles announced Tuesday, in a major win for Japan’s defense industry. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/05/japan/japan-australia-mogami-contract/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #australia #australiajapanrelations #defense#mogami #sdf #msdf #defenseministry

An annual Japanese Self-Defense Forces review ceremony will no longer be held in principle due to mounting SDF duties in an increasingly severe security environment, according to the Defense Ministry. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/31/japan/sdf-annual-review-ceremony-discontinue/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #sdf #defenseministry

The Defense Ministry has punished 93 members of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, including its chief of staff, for improperly receiving goods from four domestic shipbuilding companies. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/31/japan/msdf-members-punished-over-scandal/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #msdf #defenseministry