Nikkei: US defense tech startup Anduril eyes manufacturing in Japan
TOKYO — U.S. defense tech startup Anduril Industries is looking at setting up a factory in Japan as well as partnering with local manufacturers to supply equipment to the government. "Anduril is preparing to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to billions of dollars in Japan business," said founder Palmer Luckey at a Tokyo press conference on Wednesday.
The Press release indicates they may see Japan as a new market now that they are increasing their defense budget:
The team-up between Japan and Anduril is a natural fit: Anduril aspires to learn from Japan’s deep experience and pressing priorities in defense production; Japan can benefit from Anduril’s contributions to software development and advanced manufacturing. Specifically, Anduril is focused on collaborative partnership —understanding Japan’s unique needs, and supporting efforts to enhance readiness and innovation in ways that align with Japan’s broader strategic vision. The company’s entry into Japan follows recent Anduril expansions across the Asia-Pacific region, reflecting growing demand for agile, software-driven solutions that enhance deterrence and capacity across like-minded nations.
But beyond that, Japan is in a unique position to build these drones and provide them to nations who want to reduce reluctance on China, because they have the capabilities to build all the hardware themselves (interview in English):
by jjrs