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The CDIC and Australian Defence Export Office is calling for expressions of interest from Australia's defence industry to participate in a trade mission to Japan later in the year.
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The Australian Defence Export Office (ADEO) is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from Australian export-capable defence companies to participate in a Japan trade mission and the associated program.
In partnership with Austrade, the ADEO is hosting a trade mission to Japan over 20-22 November 2019. The Japan trade mission will bring together Japanese defence officials, industry representatives, and research and development (R&D) institutions, to highlight Australian defence industry capabilities and showcase the latest equipment, industry products, technologies, R&D systems and services to Japanese industry and defence procurement interlocutors.
The Japan trade mission will be supported by the Australian Defence Export Advocate and will provide a valuable forum to promote Australian capabilities and innovation amongst Japanese defence industry and innovation executives and relevant defence leadership.
It serves to advance industrial co-operation, discuss potential future projects, identify business and mutual investment opportunities and reinforce the strategic objectives of our military co-operation.
As Japan’s most trusted security partner in the Indo-Pacific after the US, Australia is well-positioned to partner with Japan in a number of areas of mutual defence industry co-operation. Japan is the eighth largest spender in the world on defence and is spending more each year, including more on foreign equipment.
Australia is currently Japan’s sixth biggest source of defence equipment, having sold roughly $40 million worth of equipment since the early 2000s. Japan is not an easy market to access, not least because of language and cultural differences, but also because of the requirement for persistent presence and access.
This trade mission will deliver business and cultural insights, and provide introductions and showcasing opportunities that will help Australian industry navigate this complex but worthwhile market.
As part of the Japanese National Defence Program Guidelines (equivalent to Australia’s Defence White Paper) and Mid-Term Defence Program (MTDP), a five-year capability acquisition plan has Japan focused on developing or acquiring a number of different capabilities, including:
- Maritime domain awareness (MDA) and broad area intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR): How to increase capability and effectiveness while reducing costs and manpower (e.g. AI, autonomous systems, innovative software solutions etc).
- Space-based capabilities and Space Situational Awareness: Including ISR satellite development and launch capabilities.
- Integrated missile defence: Including technologies and locations involved in testing and the development of missile systems.
- Protected mobility in complex land environments.
- Rapid and large-scale transport: Cost effectively delivering inter/intra theatre lift.
- Future naval platforms: Including making the most of autonomy and AI in the maritime domain, and designing and building future naval platforms for future missions.
- Electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) and electronic warfare (EW): Including next generation radar and detection, tracking and targeting technologies, as well as technologies to assure military communications in environments where use of the EMS is contested.
- Extending and protecting the life of platforms: Including technologies, skills and services extending the life of ships, vehicles and aircraft, as well as improving their ability to survive the environmental as well as future battlefields.
- Game changing technologies: Including next generation computing (e.g. quantum computing), AI, robotics, unmanned systems, 3D printing and additive manufacturing.
For further information, including information sheets for suitable companies or to express your interest is available here. The Japan trade mission will be supported by the Australian Defence Export Advocate, David Johnston, and bring together Japanese defence officials, industry representatives, and research and development institutions. Applications to join the delegation close at midnight on Saturday, 31 August 2019.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
