Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)) Dr. William LaPlante traveled to Tokyo, Japan, to launch the inaugural U.S.-Japan Defense Industrial Cooperation, Acquisition, and Sustainment (DICAS) Forum with his Japanese counterpart, Masaki Fukasawa, Commissioner of the Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Agency (ATLA). The visit included several key events aimed at enhancing defense industrial cooperation between the two nations.
On Sunday, June 9, USD(A&S) LaPlante and Commissioner Fukasawa signed the Terms of Reference to restructure the Systems and Technology Forum into DICAS. This restructuring aligns with the U.S.-Japan Joint Statement issued in April. Both sides agreed to promote greater U.S.-Japan defense industrial cooperation under DICAS and accelerate coordination towards co-development, co-production, and co-sustainment. ATLA also welcomed the publication of the National Defense Industrial Strategy (NDIS) and the Regional Sustainment Framework (RSF) by the Department of Defense.
The co-chairs concurred on several principles to further defense industrial cooperation:
- Making projects mutually beneficial by promoting technology transfer.
- Remaining flexible in pursuing actions and policies that advance respective defense industrial bases.
- Collaborating among all relevant stakeholders to overcome identified challenges.
- Deepening understanding of Japanese industrial capabilities.
USD(A&S) LaPlante and Commissioner Fukasawa also agreed to establish working groups for further discussions on identifying opportunities for missile co-production, co-sustainment of forward-deployed U.S. Navy ships and U.S. Air Force aircraft, and supply chain resiliency for priority defense requirements in partnership with U.S. and Japanese industry.
On Monday, June 10, USD(A&S) LaPlante and Commissioner Fukasawa hosted a DICAS Industry Round Table with U.S. and Japanese prime contractors. USD(A&S) LaPlante provided an overview of NDIS and RSF while both co-chairs addressed questions from Japanese companies. The companies discussed issues they have faced and their expectations for DICAS to alleviate some roadblocks to cooperation.
At the conclusion of the Round Table, USD(A&S) LaPlante and Commissioner Fukasawa formally launched ship repair discussions in coordination with DICAS. The U.S. Navy along with counterparts from ATLA and the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Forces will co-chair a Ship Repair Working Group meeting on June 11. Dr. LaPlante noted that A&S looks forward to participating in these ship repair discussions and reporting at the next DICAS meeting.
Following the Industry Round Table, Dr. LaPlante visited the F-35 Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facility as well as regional aircraft depot at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Komaki South Plant. Dr. LaPlante expressed high regard for "the stable operation of the F-35 FACO in Japan" and acknowledged "steady progress toward Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul, Upgrade capability as a regional depot in the Indo-Pacific."
