Washington, D.C. – On Jan. 12, 2023, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Japan Minister of Defense HAMADA Yasukazu signed a bilateral Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and a bilateral, non-binding Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) between the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD).

The RDT&E MOU is a legally binding settlement wherein DoD and MOD decide to rising alternatives for U.S.-Japanese collaboration on rising know-how to enhance protection capabilities. The MOU will help the Alliance’s efforts to keep up its technological edge in crucial and rising applied sciences, corresponding to high-power microwaves, autonomous programs, and counter-hypersonics. The MOU additionally updates the Project for Cooperative Research (PCR) MOU to simplify processes in addition to modify for present legal guidelines, insurance policies, and requirements of observe for United States-Japan for RDT&E actions.

Through the SOSA, the United States and Japan comply with alternate reciprocal precedence help for items and providers that promote nationwide protection. The association creates a streamlined mechanism for DoD and MOD to request expedited dealing with of commercial sources to resolve unanticipated provide chain disruptions to fulfill nationwide safety wants.

Secretary Austin and Minister Hamada signed the RDT&E MOU and the SOSA at a ceremony on the Pentagon on the margins of the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee (“2+2”), which occurred on the Department of State on January 11, 2023.

“Today, I am delighted for Minister Hamada and I to sign two defense enabling arrangements to increase our opportunities for expanded and deepened cooperation on advanced technologies and defense supply chains,” mentioned Secretary Austin. “To support U.S. forces and enhance Alliance cooperation towards these ends, the United States and Japan must focus our efforts to collaborate on sharpening the competitive edge of the Alliance to meet future force requirements and sustained logistics. This is a consequential moment for Japan and the U.S.-Japan Alliance as we embark on new forms of cooperation together.”

For info on RDT&E MOUs, please see the web site of the Office of Director for International Cooperation, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Sustainment) at https://www.acq.osd.mil/ic/international-agreements.html. 

For further info on SOSAs, please see the web site of the Office of Defense Production Act (DPA) Title I, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Sustainment) at https://www.businessdefense.gov/security-of-supply.html. 

Finally, for extra details about the Department of Defense’s crucial know-how areas and actions, please see the web site of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Research and Engineering) at https://www.cto.mil/.