Japan's ATLA seeks information from firms with domestic production bases for UAV warhead fuzes, probing an attritable-drone supply chain

On 29 October the Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency issued a request for information from Japanese companies with knowledge and domestic manufacturing bases for UAV warhead fuzes, as part of a study of a domestic technology and production base for UAVs "premised on being cheap and consumed in large numbers, mainly for strike and air defence". Respondents must be able to keep producing in Japan if overseas supply chains are cut and must be free of licensing constraints from foreign firms, though licensed production and co-development as such are allowed. Letters of intent are due by 17:00 on 13 November; the notice commits the agency to no contract or programme.