Nikkei: France’s Thales to build maintenance base in Japan in first for foreign defence firm

Tokyo, October 12 — French defense contractor Thales plans to establish a maintenance and operational support base in Japan, marking the first time a foreign firm has done so in the country, according to a report by Nikkei business daily. Thales CEO Patrice Caine stated that this move signals a significant commitment to Japan, outlining it as a milestone in Thales' long-term engagement with the nation.

The Nikkei suggests that Thales may eventually extend its operations in Japan to civilian applications. This development comes as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi increases defense spending to counteract China's military expansion and North Korea's unpredictable actions, moving away from Japan's historically pacifist stance that largely restricted the use of force to self-defense.

Thales currently supplies equipment to Japan's Self-Defense Forces. Caine highlighted potential areas for collaboration, such as radar and sonar technologies, expressing hope that Thales could offer superior performance in these fields. The company intends to transfer its technology to partner Japan Steel Works, and production of the 2R2M heavy mortar system is set to commence in Japan from the following year.