Key facts
- Japan is seeking foreign technology to address defense gaps.
- Tokyo has contracted for Ukrainian interceptor drones.
- Multinational fighter consortiums are expanding operations in Japan.
- Japan's National Security Strategy identifies China as a primary strategic challenge.
Japan is increasingly seeking foreign technology, expertise, and production capacity to accelerate its military modernization and address defense gaps, particularly in the context of potential regional conflicts involving China. This strategic shift has gained momentum recently, with Tokyo confirming a contract for Ukrainian interceptor drones and multinational fighter consortiums expanding their operations within Japan. French defense giant Thales is also involved in these efforts. The U.S.-Japan alliance is also deepening, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and President Donald Trump meeting in Washington on March 19, 2026, to further bilateral cooperation amid an uncertain global environment. Japan's 2022 National Security Strategy identified China as the greatest strategic challenge to its national interests.