Thales to Open Japan’s First Foreign Military Equipment Maintenance Facility

French company Thales plans to open a military equipment maintenance and operational support facility in Japan.

Nikkei Asia reported this.

It will be the first specialized facility of its kind in Japan operated by a foreign defense manufacturer. The company is currently identifying a potential location for the site.

Initially, the facility’s specialists will inspect equipment used by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and diagnose malfunctions.

Thales plans to expand the range of equipment serviced at the facility later to include equipment used by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and air defense units.

An important step in the cooperation was Japan’s decision to procure 2R2M automated mortar systems for installation on Mitsubishi multi-purpose wheeled platforms.

Japan plans to procure a total of 90 systems under the Japanese Army designation Type 24 MMCV (24式機動120mm迫撃砲). Thales will transfer 120 mm mortar manufacturing technology to Japanese company Japan Steel Works (JSW).

Howa will be responsible for manufacturing the mortar barrels.

In September 2024, Thales also signed an agreement with Japan Steel Works, granting the Japanese company technical know-how and exclusive rights to manufacture and sell 2R2M mortars in Japan for 15 years.

Militarnyi previously reported that Japan’s Ministry of Defense had ordered new multi-purpose armored vehicles from Mitsubishi’s MAV family.

The self-propelled mortar version is equipped with a French 120 mm 2R2M semi-automatic mortar mounted at the rear.

Under the plan, the new wheeled self-propelled mortars will enter service with mortar units of rapid-response regiments, as well as divisions and brigades. They will also replace the Type 96 tracked 120 mm self-propelled mortars operated by the 7th Armored Division.