Japan to Step Up War-Fighting Capabilities? France's Thales to Produce Mortars in Japan Next Year

Establishes an operations hub and transfers
mortar production technology

In step with abolishing the "five categories" restrictions,
Japan accelerates efforts to strengthen its ability to sustain warfare.

French defense giant Thales is establishing a new maintenance hub for defense equipment in Japan and will begin producing mortars there next year. The move follows the Japanese government's easing of restrictions on defense equipment exports and reflects expanded cooperation with foreign defense companies. It signals Japan's intention to build a system for securing a stable supply of weapons and parts in emergencies and to accelerate efforts to strengthen its combat capabilities.

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) reported on October 12 that Thales plans to transfer production technology for its 2R2M mortar, which is used by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, to Japan Steel Works and begin production in Japan next year. Thales has so far focused on exporting complete products to the Self-Defense Forces, but plans to expand its business to include local production, maintenance, and operation.

Driving footage of the Bushmaster armored vehicle from French defense contractor Thales, adopted by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. Thales.

Separately, Thales will establish a dedicated hub to support the maintenance and operation of the Self-Defense Forces' defense equipment. Nikkei said this will be the first time a foreign defense company has established a dedicated hub in Japan. The new facility is expected to carry out tasks such as checking the operational condition of equipment and diagnosing malfunctions, mainly for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Its support is expected to expand to equipment used by the Ground and Air Self-Defense Forces in the future.

The cooperation plan comes as Japan is gradually strengthening its combat capabilities. In April 2026, the Japanese government abolished the so-called "five categories" restrictions, which had limited weapons exports to five purposes: rescue, transport, vigilance, surveillance, and mine clearance. This has made it possible to export weapons with lethal capabilities. The government will also include "strengthening the ability to sustain warfare" as a key priority in three national security documents scheduled for revision by the end of 2026.

Nikkei cited the growing importance of strengthening supply chains, including the maintenance and supply of defense equipment, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a factor behind closer cooperation with Thales. It said that weapons imports could be disrupted in an emergency by a maritime blockade, for example, and that reliance on overseas technical support could also limit Japan's ability to respond during wartime. Nikkei added, "Japan could become a hub for exporting complete defense equipment to overseas markets, including in Asia."

Foreign defense companies have been increasingly entering Japan in recent years. Portugal-based drone company Tekever plans to establish a production hub for defense drones in Japan, while Japan's Kawasaki Heavy Industries is considering cooperation with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus in the field of large drones. In April 2026, a Japan-EU meeting on defense industry cooperation was held in Brussels, Belgium, and Thales also attended.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.