French defence company Thales SA is moving to establish a maintenance and operational support base in Japan for military equipment. While the company has not yet disclosed a specific location or an opening date for the facility, the move is being framed as a significant step in the firm's long-term engagement within the country. Chairman and chief executive Patrice Caine described the upcoming base as a milestone for Thales, noting that it could potentially become the first facility in Japan established by a foreign defence contractor to maintain and support military equipment operations.
The base is expected to provide essential services, including checking the condition of military equipment and diagnosing faults. According to reports, initial operations will focus on equipment used by the Maritime Self-Defence Force, with future intentions to expand services to the Ground and Air Self-Defence Forces. Caine indicated that the company aims to provide support in areas where Thales holds a performance advantage, specifically citing radar and sonar technologies as potential areas for cooperation. There is also the possibility that the facility's work could eventually extend to civilian equipment.
This initiative coincides with a period of increased defence spending under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, driven by concerns over regional security, particularly China's rapid military expansion and North Korea’s weapons programmes. Beyond this new maintenance base, Thales is simultaneously deepening its local production capabilities. The company plans to transfer technology for its 2R2M heavy mortar system to Japan Steel Works, with domestic production scheduled to begin in 2027. Thales has maintained a presence in Japan since 1970, with existing activities in aerospace, digital security, and defence, including supplying sonar for underwater vehicles used by the Maritime Self-Defence Force to detect mines.
