EOS sets sights on Japan space
Despite the close defence ties between Australia and Japan, companies from Down Under were rather conspicuously absent from the inaugural DSEI Japan, which was held at the Makuhari Messe exhibition and convention centre in Tokyo’s Chiba Prefecture between the 18th and 20th of November.
An exception to this was Canberra-based Electro Optic Systems Pty Ltd (EOS), which had a stand at the show, billed by its organizers as Japan’s “first fully integrated defence event”.
EOS has in recent years carved a niche for itself as a supplier of space systems and stabilised Remote Weapon Stations (RWS) around the world, and CEO Professor Craig Smith told APDR the company was at the show to explore the potential market in Japan for both segments.
Pointing out that Japan has in recent years announced plans for increased capabilities in space sensing to monitor nuclear-armed North Korea’s ongoing nuclear and ballistic missile programs, Smith said that the company saw this as an area that it sees potential opportunities in.
The company had attended the show under the banner of EOS Space Systems, although its stand at the show also had literature for its line of stabilised remote weapon stations.
Smith noted Japan had previously planned to develop its own RWS in conjunction with its local defence industry, although those plans had seemingly gone nowhere and given ongoing Japanese requirements for 8×8 wheeled and light armoured vehicles, there could also be possible future opportunities in Japan for EOS to supply such systems to.
EOS has equipped the vehicles of the Australian, American and Singapore militaries (among others) with its line of RWS, and is part of the Elbit-Hanwha team offering the South Korean company’s AS21 Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle to Australia for the LAND 400 Phase 3 program.
