Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visits India on August 20, 2026, meets Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

Key facts

• Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited India on August 20, 2026, and held meetings with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
• India and Japan launched their first defence co-development project, the UNICORN integrated mast, which features 'ninja tech' for enhanced stealth capabilities on warships.
• Japan revised its Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology in April 2026, relaxing export restrictions to enable broader defence-industrial cooperation.
• Under the UNICORN project, Japanese companies will supply design and core technology while Bharat Electronics Limited will undertake manufacturing and integration in India.
• Japan's defence strategy now calls for multilayered networks among allies and like-minded countries, connecting training, operations, defence equipment, and industrial bases.
• Japan has set a target of ¥10 trillion (about US$63 billion) in private investment in India.