Japans Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA), a department within Japans Ministry of Defence responsible for innovative and emerging technology procurement, recently announced an open competitive tender for the provision of a proof of idea for a ship-launched UAVs.Bidding will be held at ATLAs Bidding Room at the Ministry of Defences Building D in Shinjuku at 1030 on 14 May, with applications by means of the Japanese governments centralised Procurement Portal (GEPS) open in between 7 and 13 May.Specification information and the specification document, both of which undergo information security arrangements, can be accessed by certified parties through ATLAs Department of Procurement Operations Aircraft Procurement Office.
Bidding is restricted to companies that have attained a Unified Supplier Qualification ranking of A, B or C a ranking based upon elements consisting of organization capital and earnings.The ATLA tender is in line with Ministry of Defence prepares to broaden the function of unmanned assets.
It likewise begins the back of growing issues that Japans maritime UAV abilities lag those of its neighbours, with some apportioning blame to drone procurement inefficiencies in Japans Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF).
Japans Cabinet-approved late 2022 National Defence Strategy called for the broadened use of unmanned assets to reduce expenses and minimise casualties, specifying that their combined usage with AI can be a game-changer enabling Japan to get unbalanced benefits.
These top priorities were reflected in the concurrently released Defense Buildup Program, and were strengthened in last Decembers Ministry of Defence 2025 Outline of Budgetary Appropriation Requests.Ship released properties in particular have received growing attention in recent months, following increased emphasis on the security of the countries Ryukyu Island chain, which would be more exposed in case of a Taiwan contingency.During the Japan International Aerospace Exhibition in mid-October 2024 General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) showed a making of its Gambit 5 drone being introduced from an Izumo-class helicopter provider, now being customized to accommodate Lockheed Martin F-35B brief launch and vertical landing (STOVL) multirole battle aircraft.In January the JMSDF announced that it had consented to purchase an undisclosed number of V-BAT intelligence, security and reconnaissance (ISR) drones from United States firm Shield AI, in what the business has actually touted as Japans navys very first ship-launched ISR platform.That statement came in the wake of scrutiny of the JSMDFs decision in early December to acquire 23 MQ-9B SeaGuardian surveillance drones from GA-ASI without having decided on their base place or payload.Criticisms of the JMSDFs drone procurement treatments were voiced in other places in the leadup to the ATLA tender deal.
In late December Shinichi Kiyotani, a prominent Japanese defence author, claimed that the navys sluggish acquisition time-frames risked it being saddled with obsolete technology, that a lack of manufacturer contracts risked cancellations due to production discontinuation, which a hesitation to package training, parts and payload might lead to brand-new systems being retrofitted with legacy payloads.
He claimed that such aspects had contributed to the JMSDF ending up being a maritime UAV backwater.Concerns that Japans maritime drone capability has fallen behind have actually been enhanced by recent developments among Japans neighbours.
South Koreas released a General Atomics MC-1Q Gray Eagle multipurpose UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) from a Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship in November.China has actually ended up being a leading exporter of fight drones, and in January a Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) source confirmed that Chinas Sichuan-class amphibious attack ship will work as a drone carrier, with professionals anticipating that it will carry Hongdu GJ-11 Sharp Sword unmanned battle aerial vehicles (UCAV).
In early March Japans Ministry of Defence stated that 2021-2024 saw a 700 percent rise in JASDF possessions scrambling to respond to Chinese drone incursions near the Ryukyu Islands.ATLA was formed in 2015 to advance technological superiority by speeding up acquisitions of advanced military and double usage technology, and carrying out a full life-cycle method to scheduling, expense and performance management.In line with the concerns set out in the 2025 Outline of Budgetary Appropriation Requests, the last few months have seen the Agency make a number of drone-related announcements, consisting of a 12 billion yen ($135 million) handle the United States Air Force for a contractor logistics support (CLS) package for long-endurance UAVs, a $170 million (roughly $1.9 million) deal with Japans ACSL to protect SOTEN light aerial photography drones, a competitive tender for research and model advancement on vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone innovation, and scoping research studies for uncrewed undersea lorries (UUV) and surface drones.Photo: Generis JMSDF flag Nigel PittawaySource: Australian Defence Magazine