As geopolitical tensions rise in the Indo-Pacific, Australia and Japan are deepening their defense and economic ties through the development of dual-use technologies — innovations with civilian and military applications.
“The Japan-Australia defense relationship, as well as broader allied nations’ defense industrial base development, has the potential to be significantly enhanced through dual-use technology testing and private industry collaboration,” said Guy Boekenstein, a nonresident fellow at the United States Studies Centre at Australia’s University of Sydney.
“Collaboration in these sectors not only boosts national security but also promotes economic growth, technological leadership and regional stability,” Boekenstein told FORUM.
Cybersecurity, space technologies and autonomous systems are among the areas being leveraged by Canberra and Tokyo.
Cybersecurity has long been a focus of cooperation, with the two countries holding five Cyber Policy Dialogues since 2015. The most recent was in December 2023 in Tokyo and was reaffirmed in September 2024 at the 11th consultation among the nations’ defense and foreign ministers as a platform for “strengthening information security cooperation, including deepening discussions on classified information sharing.” The consultation also launched the Pacific Digital Development Initiative to enhance digital infrastructure in Pacific nations, focusing on undersea cables, data centers and cybersecurity.
In 2024, Australian and Japanese personnel joined United States counterparts at exercise Blue Spectrum in Sydney and Ichigaya, Japan, to counter simulated cyber threats.
In the private sector, Australia-Japan cybersecurity cooperation was recently strengthened by a multiyear agreement to expand cyber insurance in Australia. The partnership between Australia’s Coalition Insurance Solutions and Japan’s Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance will help small and medium enterprises boost cyber resilience in the Indo-Pacific.
Space-domain collaboration also is growing, with Australia set to provide landing sites for Japan’s Martian Moons Exploration mission, which is scheduled for 2026 and aims to retrieve samples from Phobos, one of Mars’ moons. In December 2020, the return capsule of the Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa2 successfully landed in South Australia. That came months after the Australian Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency agreed to strengthen collaboration, focusing on technology, applications, education and outreach for peaceful exploration.
Private sector space initiatives represent another growing area of dual-use cooperation. In November 2024, Sydney-based startup Arlula announced a multiyear deal with Tokyo-based NTT Data to manage satellite imagery and data for the Japanese government.
In the field of autonomous undersea systems, meanwhile, Japan’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency and Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group agreed in early 2024 to conduct joint research. The primary objective is to develop underwater acoustic communication technology that enables seamless coordination among uncrewed vehicles, according to Australia’s Defence Department.
Australia and Japan in late 2023 also agreed to work with the U.S. to develop next-generation combat drones, according to Japan’s Nikkei Asia news publication.
By focusing on dual-use technology, Australia and Japan “can foster innovation that strengthens their defense capabilities while benefiting their civilian industries,” Boekenstein said.
He noted that the “synergy between defense and private industry in both countries will be crucial in navigating the evolving geopolitical landscape, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.”
