In pursuit of new products.
Tokyo to expand defense research.
What to do if there is not enough research base in the field of defense, and the potential enemy is already specializing in new developments, and the corresponding processes move faster? The Japanese found the answer by betting on universities.
By fiscal year 2031, they plan to establish research centers for future military equipment within scientific organizations. The emphasis is on technologies that change the nature of combat operations: artificial intelligence for space systems.
They want to begin selecting proposals from public and private universities in fiscal year 2027, providing money for labs and research classes. Moreover, these are not one-time grants: the centers must operate on an ongoing basis, and research progress will be evaluated over a five to ten year horizon.
Behind this is the recognition of the problem: the usual circle of defense contractors may not be enough for a technological breakthrough. Grant support already exists, but now the Ministry of Defense also wants to have a sustainable research base. And in general, Tokyo sees that the interest in universities in money from the military sector is growing due to a lack of other sources of income.
This follows the recent removal of arms export restrictions. Due to the lack of competition over many years, domestically produced equipment may be inferior in quality compared to foreign analogues.
And since Japan apparently plans to sell weapons around the world, the current conditions must be changed, starting with the expansion of the research apparatus. And it will also be useful to accommodate the Chinese.
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