Updated 17 August 2025

DSEI Japan 2025

Japan hosted a DSEI defence exhibition from 21-23 May 2025 in Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo. This was the first time King Arthur’s Writes had attended this particular exposition, one that covers the land, sea and air domains. For anyone wishing to know what Japanese defence companies and the Self-Defense Force are up to, DSEI Japan 2025 was an ideal venue. This is because few Japanese companies exhibit outside their own country, but most were present at this event within Japan.

Japan is making a major push to market its products to the rest of the world, and this was evident at this expo. Companies like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Electric, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Subaru are keen to expand their footprint outside Japan. Furthermore, the government is supporting such efforts, and this paid fruit very recently when Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was selected to build up to eleven Upgraded Mogami-class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy. This is a very important deal for Japan, and it comes with Tokyo’s blessing as the nation seeks to forge a closer strategic relationship with Australia.

Another example of Japan’s more extrovert approach is seen in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), where the country is cooperating closely with Italy and the UK in this trilateral project to develop a brand new sixth-generation fighter. Japan has gained considerable experience collaborating with American companies, but this is a rather novel arrangement with Europe. GCAP obviously had a major presence at DSEI Japan 2025, as companies like BAE Systems and Leonardo work with Japanese counterparts.