On March 31, the Japan Ministry of Defense (JMOD) unveiled detailed zoning plans for its proposed “multi-functional composite defense base” on the former Nippon Steel site in Kure District, Hiroshima Prefecture. The plan, presented during a consultative meeting with Nippon Steel Corporation, Kure City, and Hiroshima Prefectural Government officials, includes designated zones for private enterprise participation and drone manufacturing. JMOD envisions the new base integrating equipment maintenance and production, training, and supply functions to enhance the sustainability of Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) operations.[1]
About the Kure District “Multi-Functional Composite Defense Base”
Development of the base, for which JMOD has allocated 500 million yen (approx. 3.3 million USD) in fiscal 2025, is planned for a 130-hectare site previously occupied by Nippon Steel Corporation’s Setouchi Steel Works. The facility once employed about 3,300 workers when its closure was announced in early 2020.[2] Since first proposing construction of the new defense base on the former steelworks site in March of last year, JMOD has been holding consultative meetings with representatives from Kure City, the Hiroshima Prefectural Government, and Nippon Steel.
JMOD’s outline for the three main functions of the proposed defense base in Kure District, previously presented in a rough zoning plan released in September 2024, remains largely unchanged:[3]
1) Infrastructure for equipment production and maintenance – to include involvement of the private sector.
2) A disaster response hub – to include a heliport and supply depots, alongside operational grounds for JSDF units, including ship deployments and training activities.
3) Port functions – to include quays, etc.
In its latest submission to consultative meetings with stakeholders, JMOD highlights the strategic advantages of the proposed multi-functional base, including its access to the Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Japan, and Japan’s southwest Nansei Islands. Kure, a historic naval port renowned for shipbuilding, is also home to the Kure Naval Base of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).[4]
Notably, the newly established Self-Defense Forces Maritime Transport Group, formed on March 24 with an initial strength of 100 personnel, will also be based at the nearby Kure Naval Base and is expected to enhance the rapid deployment of capabilities to remote islands in the Nansei chain in the event of a Taiwan-related contingency.[5]
Additionally, JMOD underscores the presence of a major Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) 13th Brigade unit stationed in nearby Kaita Town, as well as the new facility’s proximity to U.S. military bases in Sasebo and Iwakuni.[6]
Significance of JMOD’s Latest Zoning Plans
JMOD’s latest zoning plan, revealed on March 31, is more detailed than the one released last September. It now includes a dedicated area reserved for private sector participation, specifically for companies involved in defense production and technology. Additionally, research facilities under the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) are proposed to accommodate potential private sector involvement, including startups engaged in advanced research initiatives. Finally, the plan also designates a specific area for the manufacture and maintenance of unmanned vehicles.[7]
If the proposed “unmanned vehicle manufacturing and maintenance area” is realized, it could contribute to the procurement and upkeep of the JMOD’s various drone-related requirements, as outlined in the latest defense budget for fiscal 2025. This includes the acquisition of multi-purpose drones for disaster relief, as well as various unmanned assets for defense, including those for attack, transport, and Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting (ISRT) functions.[8]
Previous Japanese government initiatives to utilize recovered land to foster the domestic drone industry are also apparent. A notable precedent is the “Fukushima Robot Test Field”, which supports the development of surface, underwater, and aerial vehicles for logistics, infrastructure inspection, and large-scale disaster response. Built as part of the government’s “Innovation Coast Framework”, a national initiative to promote new industries in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the nuclear disaster, this project reflects Japan’s broader strategy to advance unmanned technology.
Meanwhile, regarding the Kure defense base’s “private enterprise attraction zone,” JMOD stated that, based on the current status of discussions with potential companies, it plans to secure approximately 20 hectares for this purpose. The ministry is also in talks with a range of firms, including local businesses. However, JMOD noted that it is still evaluating what types of equipment would be manufactured on-site, and that both the number of companies to be invited and the timing of their involvement have yet to be determined.[9]
In response to the latest JMOD proposals, the Hiroshima Prefectural Government, during the March 31 consultative meeting, requested further elaboration. It urged the ministry to consider attracting private sector companies involved in shipbuilding, sustainable aviation fuel production, and drone/autonomous driving technology demonstration facilities as part of efforts to foster the region’s defense industry. Additionally, as part of ATLA’s prospective startup research facilities, the prefectural government also requested the inclusion of artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity research and development centers.[10]
Conclusions
Since first revealing its plans for the “multi-functional composite defense base” last year, JMOD has been eager to convey to Kure City benefits the proposal could bring to the local area. In its latest materials, the ministry emphasizes that the updated zoning plans, along with the relocation of the JMSDF Recruit Training Center from Kure Naval Base, will enhance the base’s role in disaster preparedness, business development, and community engagement in support of the Kure District.[11]
JMOD has particularly emphasized that the base is expected to attract private sector participation, driving job creation in the Kure District’s defense manufacturing and maintenance industries. If these opportunities align with the region’s longstanding expertise in shipbuilding, as highlighted by the Hiroshima Prefectural Government, in addition to steelworking, they could open new avenues for industrial growth. Furthermore, the proposed establishment of startups under ATLA’s aegis has the potential to position the region as a hub for cutting-edge research and development, attracting entrepreneurs who could contribute to the local economy.
The ministry should carefully consider the requests made by Hiroshima Prefecture, which emphasized the importance of addressing employment and future prospects. This can be achieved by ensuring that defense industry fostering plans align with the region’s expertise in shipbuilding and steelworks. Additionally, ATLA should consider Hiroshima’s proposals to incorporate cybersecurity and AI development centers to support new industry growth. Notably, these sectors are highly relevant to JMOD’s proposed drone manufacturing zone.
The base’s drone manufacturing zone could, in turn, deepen regional engagement with Japan’s unmanned systems developers and national industry associations. For instance, the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association (JUIDA) recently collaborated with the JGSDF Middle Army, which oversees Hiroshima Prefecture, to test domestically produced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for disaster relief operations. Expanding such initiatives to include active collaboration with the proposed base’s drone manufacturing zone could not only enhance the JSDF’s defense capabilities but also strengthen the region’s disaster prevention and resilience efforts.
Notes:
※1 USD = 150 JPY
[1] In Japanese, the proposed base is referred to as “多機能な複合防衛拠点”; Kure City, “【3/31更新】日本製鉄(株)瀬戸内製鉄所呉地区（旧 日鉄日新製鋼(株)呉製鉄所） 関連情報と相談窓口” ([Updated March 31] Nippon Steel Corporation Setouchi Steelworks Kure District (formerly Nippon Steel Nisshin Steel Co., Ltd. Kure Works) related information and consultation desk), https://www.city.kure.lg.jp/soshiki/40/nittetunisshin.html; Japan Ministry of Defense, “Zoning for the development of a multi-functional composite defense base by the Ministry of Defense”, March 2025, https://www.city.kure.lg.jp/uploaded/attachment/101657.pdf
[2] Kyodo News, “Nippon Steel shuts historic Kure plant in western Japan”, September 30, 2023, https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/09/7e34dfb0bf46-nippon-steel-shuts-historic-kure-plant-in-western-japan.html; Japan Ministry of Defense, “Progress and Budget in Fundamental Reinforcement of Defense Capabilities – Overview of FY2025 Budget -”, p.33, https://www.mod.go.jp/en/d_act/d_budget/pdf/fy2025_20250210a.pdf
[3] Japan Ministry of Defense, “防衛省による多機能な複合防衛拠点の整備に係るゾーニングについて” (Zoning for the development of a multi-functional composite defense base by the Ministry of Defense), March 2025, Slide 1, https://www.city.kure.lg.jp/uploaded/attachment/101657.pdf
[4] Japan Ministry of Defense, Ibid., Slide 1
[5] Kosuke Takahashi, “Japan established new Maritime Transport Group with Taiwan contingency in mind, March 24, 2025, https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/03/japan-establishes-new-maritime-transport-group-with-taiwan-contingency-in-mind/
[6] Japan Ministry of Defense, Ibid., Slide 1
[7] Japan Ministry of Defense, Ibid., Slide 3-4
[8] Japan Ministry of Defense, “Progress and Budget in Fundamental Reinforcement of Defense Capabilities – Overview of FY2025 Budget -”, https://www.mod.go.jp/en/d_act/d_budget/pdf/fy2025_20250210a.pdf
[9] Japan Ministry of Defense, “防衛省による多機能な複合防衛拠点の整備に係るゾーニングについて” (Zoning for the development of a multi-functional composite defense base by the Ministry of Defense), March 2025, Slide 5, https://www.city.kure.lg.jp/uploaded/attachment/101657.pdf
[10] Hiroshima Prefectural Government, “呉地区における多機能な複合防衛拠点の整備に係る協議 議事概要” (Summary of the meeting on the development of a multi-functional defense base in the Kure District), March 31, https://www.pref.hiroshima.lg.jp/uploaded/attachment/617517.pdf
[11] Japan Ministry of Defense, “「防衛省による多機能な複合防衛拠点の整備検討に当たっての要望について（回答）」の別紙” (Attachment to “Regarding the request by the Ministry of Defense in considering the development of a multi-functional composite defense base (Response)”), March 31, 2025, https://www.city.kure.lg.jp/uploaded/attachment/101498.pdf
This article was originally posted on NSBT Japan, the first defense and security industry network in Japan. The publication provides the latest information on security business trends both within Japan and overseas. Asian Military Review began exchanging articles with NSBT Japan in April 2024.
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