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Annual Report on the Status of the Approval of Overseas Transfers of Defense Equipment and Technology

Japanese

April 6, 2026

External Economic Policy

Implementation Guidelines for the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology (adopted by the National Security Council [NSC] on April 1, 2014) require the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to prepare an annual report on the status of the approval of overseas transfers of defense equipment and technology. This annual report summarizes the status of the approval of overseas transfers of defense equipment and technology made in FY2024 by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act. This report is the eleventh such report issued.

In FY2024, the METI Minister issued 1,211 individual Export Licenses for overseas transfers of defense equipment and technology. These are classified based on the relevant type of Implementation Guidelines as follows. About 80% of the cases were repairs of defense equipment and technology for the Self-Defense Forces (SDF).

  1. Overseas transfers that contribute to active promotion of peace contribution and international cooperation: 38 cases
  2. Overseas transfers that contribute to Japan's security: 1,103 cases
    Those related to international joint development and production: 74 cases
    Those contributing to enhancing security and defense cooperation: 26 cases
    Those necessary for supporting the activities of the SDF or ensuring the safety of Japanese nationals: 1003 cases
  3. Overseas transfers of defense equipment and technology to countries subjected to aggression or the use or threat of force in violation of international law: 2 cases
  4. Overseas transfers where the impact on Japan's security is judged to be extremely small: 67 cases
  5. Overseas transfers that have been reviewed and classified as an exemption under the previous Three Principles on Arms Exports and the collateral policy guidelines. (excluding cases falling under the types above): 1 case

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Security Trade Control Policy Division, Trade and Economic Security Bureau

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