This analysis examines trends in the defense industry and equipment obtained through on-site observation of "DSEI Japan 2025," Japan's largest defense equipment exhibition held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture from May 21-23, 2025.
Key Points
1. Expansion of DSEI Japan 2025 Scale
- 471 companies and organizations from 33 countries and regions exhibited (approximately 1.6 times increase from about 250 companies previously)
- Japanese company exhibitions doubled to 169 (from 86 companies previously)
- Expected attendance of approximately 14,000 visitors
- Reflects defense budget increases and defense industry strengthening policies following publication of "Three Strategic Documents" in late 2022
- Sponsored and supported by Ministry of Defense, ATLA, METI, and industry associations
2. Technology Trends in Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)
- Attracting attention as autonomous UAVs operating alongside manned fighter aircraft
- Common elements across countries: role specialization/distribution, high attrition tolerance and low-cost design, high autonomy through AI
- General Atomics: Exhibited YFQ-42A, U.S. Air Force CCA candidate
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries: Displayed 1/10 scale CCA concept model, emphasizing component standardization and modularization
- Kawasaki Heavy Industries: Exhibited CSA as "Collaborative Unmanned Aircraft (Support Type)" envisioned for reconnaissance and electronic warfare equipment
3. Promoting Entry of Small and Emerging Companies
- Established "Japanese New Comer Zone" with 26 startup and venture companies exhibiting
- Deloitte sponsored, supporting exhibitions by Japanese companies with defense solutions
- Exhibited cardboard hand-thrown drones, space situational awareness, defense AI solutions, etc.
- Functions as venue for promoting government procurement entry and exploring partnerships with defense prime contractors
- Promotes integration of Japanese companies into international defense supply chains
4. Development of Dual-Use Technologies and Services
- OSINT Analysis: Babel Street proposed application to supply chain vendor screening
- Data Integration/Analysis: Palantir exhibited AI-powered decision support systems
- Unmanned Systems: 6 Ukrainian companies exhibited with Rakuten Group cooperation, pursuing low cost and high productivity
- Agency/Trading Functions: Armatus and others support bidirectional Japan-U.S. defense tech company business development
5. Qatar Defense Industry Trends
- Barzan Holdings exhibited ammunition, automatic rifles, counter-UAV equipment, etc.
- Promoting defense industry localization triggered by 2017 Qatar diplomatic crisis
- Aiming to balance maintaining Western relations with improving autonomy
- Seeking partnerships with Japanese defense companies
- 14 countries exhibited national pavilions, demonstrating international presence
The article concludes that DSEI Japan 2025 is an important opportunity to capture rapid changes and trends in the defense industry, requiring continuous trend analysis from perspectives of technological innovation, industrial structure changes, and regional politics.