- BAE Systems and NEC have collaborated to strengthen the Japanese government’s cyber defense capabilities
- The collaboration will focus on developing and deploying active cyber defense capabilities
- BAE Systems will contribute cyber operations expertise, while NEC will provide local technology and policy knowledge
BAE Systems and NEC have partnered to advance the development of active cyber defense, or ACD, capabilities to strengthen the Japanese government’s cyber defenses.
What Will the BAE Systems-NEC Partnership Deliver?
Under the memorandum of understanding, the companies will jointly develop and implement ACD technologies for government customers in Japan, NEC said Monday. BAE Systems will leverage its experience in cyber operations and ACD practices, while NEC will contribute its technology capabilities, deployment experience and knowledge of Japan’s cyber policy environment. The agreement advances the objectives of the Japan-U.K. Strategic Cyber Partnership established by the two governments in January 2026.
The partnership with NEC is the latest in a series of international collaborations pursued by BAE Systems. In 2025, the company signed agreements with Czech IT firm PragoData to strengthen defense support capabilities in the Czech Republic and with South Korea’s Hanwha Systems to explore advanced satellite-based intelligence and surveillance technologies. Like those efforts, the NEC collaboration combines BAE’s expertise with a local partner’s capabilities to address national security requirements in a key market.
Andrea Thompson, group managing director of digital intelligence at BAE Systems, said leveraging best-in-class capabilities is critical to meeting customers’ needs and addressing the unique demands of their operating environments.
“Working together with NEC, we will turn our respective expertise into practical, operational capability in pursuit of a fair, safe and secure cyberspace,” said Thompson.
How Does the Collaboration Support Broader Cyber Resilience?
Beyond ACD implementation, the companies plan to explore a framework for cooperation involving cybersecurity and national security stakeholders in both countries. The effort is intended to encourage greater collaboration between industry participants in the U.K. and Japan and support the development of skilled cyber workforces in both nations.
