With pressure mounting from U.S. defense officials and the powerful Keidanren business group on the government to relax arms export restrictions, the military-industrial lobbies in Washington and Tokyo hope the future bilateral security relationship will incorporate their interests more robustly.

At the same time, Japan is looking to expand its defense relationships with European countries, especially France and Britain, although the United States remains its primary partner.

Here are some facts about the nation's defense industry: