The environment surrounding the defense industry continues to change at an unprecedented speed since 2023, when we held our first seminar for the defense industry. From rising geopolitical tensions in various places, changes in the dynamics of international relations around allied countries are affecting the rapid growth of defense equipment exports in the Asia-Pacific region, the establishment of actual overseas export cases, and the progress of international joint development projects. Securing a competitive advantage in the defense industry depends on modernizing the defense production process, which can only be achieved by introducing digital transformation. Resilience in the electromagnetic spectrum domain is essential for high-level integration and mobility in force operations, and the emergence of hypersonic weapons requires a new, unprecedented strategic deterrence framework. In order to maintain superiority in diverse operational environments, including these advanced domains, a system is required to provide defense capabilities more quickly and effectively. In this seminar, Ansys experts and speakers with experience in industry, government, and academia will talk about the application and latest trends of digital transformation and digital engineering for the entire development and operation lifecycle of defense equipment, as well as actual examples and future prospects. We look forward to seeing everyone involved.
ANSYS Program
13:05 – 13:10
Opening Remarks
13:10 – 13:40
Promoting Mission Engineering
The international community is facing its greatest challenge since the end of the war and is entering a new era of crisis. Each country is developing various cutting-edge technologies, and traditional military structures and fighting methods are fundamentally changing. In order to respond to these changes, it is necessary to optimize the entire mission, and I believe that mission engineering is significant as a method for doing so. In promoting mission engineering, I will introduce the development of a simulation environment, challenges, and the direction of future efforts.
Mr. Kenji Minami, Lt. Gen., Project Management Director (Aviation), Project Management Department, Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency
13:40 – 13:55
Video lecture: “Toward the realization of digital engineering that supports new mission concepts and large-scale equipment”
When you hear the term “digital engineering,” many people probably think of “numerical analysis technology” such as sensitivity analysis by wargaming, multiphysics simulation, and phenomenon reproduction by physical calculation. On the other hand, it is clear from the trends in the United States that “information processing technology” that handles large amounts of diverse information and its relationships is also extremely important for conceiving, developing, operating, and maintaining cross-disciplinary missions and equipment as systems of systems. In this lecture, I will propose key points that the public and private sectors should focus on from a practical perspective of systems engineering in order to realize digital engineering that contributes to more advanced and faster decision-making and ultimately strengthening defense capabilities.
Innovative Design LLC Founder/CEO Kanetoku Ishibashi
13:55 – 14:45
Digital Battlefronts: Transformation lessons from the global defense ecosystem
In this presentation, we examine the adoption and the use of digital engineering in the defense industry and the key insights gained from implementing transformative technologies across global defense organizations. This presentation explores how digital engineering is reshaping defense capabilities, identifies common implementation challenges, and shares practical strategies that have proven successful in navigating complex organizational cultures. Drawing from experiences working with these organizations, we’ll discuss how defense organizations are balancing innovation with security requirements, creating interoperable systems and driving digital transformation, while maintaining operational readiness in an increasingly interconnected defense landscape.
Shashank Narayan, CTO, AGI (Ansys Government Initiatives)/
Shuzo Otani Area Vice President, Asia-Pacific, Aerospace & Defense, Ansys Inc
14:45 – 15:15
Driving Defense Innovation with Digital Engineering
Today’s advances in digital technology have brought a new form of digital engineering (DE) to the engineering world, using a “Model-Analyze-Build” methodology to replace the traditional “Design-Build-Test” methodology. On the other hand, in order to respond to the current severe security environment, it is becoming increasingly important to promote defense innovation that incorporates cutting-edge technologies and rapidly creates superior equipment. In this article, we will discuss the usefulness and challenges of applying DE to promote defense innovation in the present day, when various things and events in physical and virtual spaces are connected by IoT technology.
Hirokazu Tonozono, Research Advisor, Institute for Future Engineering, Public Interest Foundation
Driving Defense Innovation with Digital Engineering
Today’s advances in digital technology have brought a new form of digital engineering (DE) to the engineering world, using a “Model-Analyze-Build” methodology to replace the traditional “Design-Build-Test” methodology. On the other hand, in order to respond to the current severe security environment, it is becoming increasingly important to promote defense innovation that incorporates cutting-edge technologies and rapidly creates superior equipment. In this article, we will discuss the usefulness and challenges of applying DE to promote defense innovation in the present day, when various things and events in physical and virtual spaces are connected by IoT technology.
Hirokazu Tonozono, Research Advisor, Institute for Future Engineering, Public Interest Foundation
Driving Defense Innovation with Digital Engineering
Today’s advances in digital technology have brought a new form of digital engineering (DE) to the engineering world, using a “Model-Analyze-Build” methodology to replace the traditional “Design-Build-Test” methodology. On the other hand, in order to respond to the current severe security environment, it is becoming increasingly important to promote defense innovation that incorporates cutting-edge technologies and rapidly creates superior equipment. In this article, we will discuss the usefulness and challenges of applying DE to promote defense innovation in the present day, when various things and events in physical and virtual spaces are connected by IoT technology.
Hirokazu Tonozono, Research Advisor, Institute for Future Engineering, Public Interest Foundation
15:15 – 15:30
Break
15:30 – 16:00
Building an integrated development environment for digital mission engineering using the cloud
This is a case study of a startup company that built a practical integrated environment for digital mission engineering with STK at its core by building a digital mission engineering integrated development environment on a cloud environment and integrating various tools. In this case study, the cloud (AWS) was utilized to prepare a digital mission engineering integrated development environment from the early development stages, and development efficiency was significantly improved by linking and integrating multiple tools with STK at the core. This will introduce an integration and construction environment for STK and related tools on the cloud, which has never been done before in Japan.
LocationMind Inc. CEO Office Principal Engineer Yuta Hasegawa
16:00 – 16:30
The role of MBSE in defense equipment development: MBSE would have been nice to have
In this presentation, the speaker will look back on the operational requirements creation work he was involved in for an unmanned aerial vehicle research system developed in the 2000s as a requirement source for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Assuming that MBSE, which was hardly used in the defense field at the time of development, had been applied to the requirements stage of the project, he will analyze and evaluate the operational requirements creation work from the perspective of “how the development might have changed.”
Mr. Yasuo Otani, General Manager, National Security Business Unit, Public Sector Headquarters, Amazon Web Services Japan, LLC
16:30 – 17:00
Digital Technology Transforms Systems Engineering – Aiming for the Future Beyond Mission Engineering
Systems engineering, which has developed mainly in the defense industry, is now being used to optimize the “mission” itself. Digital technology has become indispensable for the design of highly complex systems. New trends such as mission engineering and digital engineering continue to evolve beyond our imagination. In this presentation, we will explore where systems engineering is headed in the future, while introducing the forefront of complex system development and the latest efforts in Japan.
Mr. Seiko Shirasaka, Chairman/Professor, Graduate School of System Design and Management, Keio University
17:00-18:00
Panel discussion
Mr. Ishibashi Kanetoku, Founder/CEO, Innovative Design LLC.
Engaged in the development of mass-produced motorcycle engines and advanced research and development of electric personal mobility technology at Honda R&D Co., Ltd. After that, he served as project manager and systems engineer for the development of a 50kg-class microsatellite system at the Nakasuka Laboratory, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo. Currently, as founder/CEO of Innovative Design LLC, he provides professional services that apply systems engineering and MBSE. He also serves as a specially appointed assistant professor at the Graduate School of System Design and Management, Keio University, where he teaches systems engineering/MBSE courses.
Yasuo Otani, General Manager, National Security Business Headquarters, Public Sector Headquarters, Amazon Web Services Japan,
LLC. Joined Amazon Web Services Japan, LLC in 2023. As General Manager, National Security Business Headquarters, Public Sector, he promotes cloud business for the Ministry of Defense, related ministries and agencies, non-profit organizations, and defense-related companies. He is engaged in the evolution of cloud services in the security field through various educational activities for defense customers and building partnerships with system integrators and startups. Prior to this, he served in the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces for over 30 years as a senior officer in the Air Self-Defense Force. He was involved in various defense equipment development projects such as fighter jets, unmanned aircraft, transport aircraft, missiles, ground radar, and space systems as a technical executive. He obtained a PhD in systems engineering from the Graduate School of SDM, Keio University in 2019.
Professor and Chair of the Graduate School of System Design and Management, Keio University, Shirasaka Seiko
After working at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, he assumed his current position. He will assume the post of Chair of the Graduate School of SDM in October 2023. His areas of expertise are large-scale system development, innovation methodologies for technology and society integration systems, and systems engineering. From 2015 to 2019, he developed an on-demand small synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite as a program manager for the Cabinet Office's Impulsing Paradigm Change through Disruptive Research and Development Program (ImPACT). He serves on various government committees, including as Chair of the Advisory Board of the Digital Architecture Design Center of the Information-Technology Promotion Agency, a member of the Cabinet Office's Space Policy Committee, and Chair of Working Group 3 of the Green Innovation Project Subcommittee of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Hirokazu Tonozono, Research Advisor, Institute for Future Engineering, Public Interest Foundation
The first Chief Defense Engineer of the Defense Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency. During his tenure, he led many research and development projects and international joint research and development. He is currently a research advisor at the Institute for Future Engineering. His main research areas include technology security policy and innovation policy. Ph.D. (Engineering), Keio University
Yuta Hasegawa, Principal Engineer, CEO Office, LocationMind Inc.
He has been in the space industry for nearly 30 years, and as an electrical system engineer and C&DH lead engineer, he has contributed to space and satellite development through space radar systems, radar signal processing design, GNSS signal design and equipment design, and satellite-to-ground communication architecture design. He has joined LocationMind, taking advantage of his knowledge of GNSS signal design in particular, and will play a leading role in the defense business.
Mr. Kenji Minami, Lieutenant General, Project Management Director (Aviation), Project Management Department,
Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency, Japan. After working as Chief of the First Business Planning Section and Chief of the Second Business Planning Section of the Defense Department of the Air Staff Office, where he managed the business of major equipment for the Air Self-Defense Force, as well as new fields such as communications and space, he is now in his current position. He is in charge of project management for important equipment for the Ministry of Defense.
Shashank Narayan, CTO, AGI (Ansys Government Initiatives)
Shashank Narayan is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Ansys Government Initiatives (AGI), the U.S. national security subsidiary of Ansys, a global leader in engineering simulation. As CTO, Shashank oversees all aspects of innovative product development and product management. He is a senior technology and business leader with over 30 years of experience leading commercial software development teams for the aerospace and defense sectors. As CTO, he is responsible for defining the product strategy and roadmap for Ansys' Digital Mission Engineering division, which is aligned with Ansys' overall corporate and product strategy. Shashank and the Ansys Digital Mission Engineering product team have delivered innovative capabilities to support the digital transformation of space and national security customers through products such as the Systems Tool Kit (STK) and Orbit Determination Tool Kit (ODTK).
ANSYS Japan Co., Ltd. Area Vice President Sales, Aerospace & Defense APAC Shuzo Otani
Joined Iwasaki Electric Co., Ltd. in 1981. After that, he worked for Hewlett-Packard Japan Ltd., and in 1995 moved to Autodesk Japan, where he was involved in business development for the manufacturing industry and marketing in the Asia-Pacific region. After that, he worked for Nippon Broad Vision Co., Ltd. and WebMethods Co., Ltd., before rejoining Autodesk Japan in 2006 and serving as General Manager of the Mechanical Solutions Business Unit. In 2013, he was appointed President and CEO of IHS Global Co., Ltd., and has held his current position since May 2018.
ModeratorShuzo
Otani Area Vice President Sales, Aerospace & Defense APAC, ANSYS Japan
Co., Ltd. Joined Iwasaki Electric Co., Ltd. in 1981. After that, he worked for Hewlett-Packard Japan Ltd., and in 1995 moved to Autodesk Inc., where he was involved in business development for the manufacturing industry and marketing in the Asia-Pacific region. After that, he worked for Nippon Broad Vision Co., Ltd. and WebMethods Co., Ltd., before rejoining Autodesk Inc. in 2006 and serving as General Manager of the Mechanical Solutions Business Division. In 2013, he was appointed President and CEO of IHS Global Co., Ltd., and has held his current position since May 2018.
Mr. Akihiro Ito, Section Manager, First Section, Business Development Department, Defense and Space Solutions Division, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Joined Mitsubishi Electric Corporation in 2008. He is engaged in research into radar and sensor signal processing and information processing algorithms, and the development and design of large radar systems at the company's Information Technology R&D Center and Communications Equipment Works. In recent years, he has promoted research and development in mission engineering. From April 2025, he will be in charge of new business development in the security field at the company's Defense and Space Solutions Division. Doctor of Engineering.
Yasuo Otani, General Manager, National Security Business Headquarters, Public Sector Headquarters, Amazon Web Services Japan,
LLC. Joined Amazon Web Services Japan, LLC in 2023. As General Manager, National Security Business Headquarters, Public Sector, he promotes cloud business for the Ministry of Defense, related ministries and agencies, non-profit organizations, and defense-related companies. He is engaged in the evolution of cloud services in the security field through various educational activities for defense customers and building partnerships with system integrators and startups. Prior to this, he served in the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces for over 30 years as a senior officer in the Air Self-Defense Force. He was involved in various defense equipment development projects such as fighter jets, unmanned aircraft, transport aircraft, missiles, ground radar, and space systems as a technical executive. He obtained a PhD in systems engineering from the Graduate School of SDM, Keio University in 2019.
Professor and Chair of the Graduate School of System Design and Management, Keio University, Shirasaka Seiko
After working at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, he assumed his current position. He will assume the post of Chair of the Graduate School of SDM in October 2023. His areas of expertise are large-scale system development, innovation methodologies for technology and society integration systems, and systems engineering. From 2015 to 2019, he developed an on-demand small synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite as a program manager for the Cabinet Office's Impulsing Paradigm Change through Disruptive Research and Development Program (ImPACT). He serves on various government committees, including as Chair of the Advisory Board of the Digital Architecture Design Center of the Information-Technology Promotion Agency, a member of the Cabinet Office's Space Policy Committee, and Chair of Working Group 3 of the Green Innovation Project Subcommittee of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Hirokazu Tonozono, Research Advisor, Institute for Future Engineering, Public Interest Foundation
The first Chief Defense Engineer of the Defense Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency. During his tenure, he led many research and development projects and international joint research and development. He is currently a research advisor at the Institute for Future Engineering. His main research areas include technology security policy and innovation policy. Ph.D. (Engineering), Keio University
Yuta Hasegawa, Principal Engineer, CEO Office, LocationMind Inc.
He has been in the space industry for nearly 30 years, and as an electrical system engineer and C&DH lead engineer, he has contributed to space and satellite development through space radar systems, radar signal processing design, GNSS signal design and equipment design, and satellite-to-ground communication architecture design. He has joined LocationMind, taking advantage of his knowledge of GNSS signal design in particular, and will play a leading role in the defense business.
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