SHIFT Awarded Contract to Support Technical Review of AI-Enabled Defense Equipment by Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA)

SHIFT Inc. (“SHIFT,” headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Masaru Tange, CEO and Representative Director), which supports clients in developing and delivering software services and products that drive sales, today announced that it has been awarded a contract to provide support services for the technical review of AI-enabled defense equipment and related systems by the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), and commenced the project on June 12, 2026.

[Background of the Project]
AI has evolved from rule-based systems, which operate according to predefined human-created rules, into autonomous systems capable of learning from data. This evolution has enabled AI to perform increasingly complex tasks and generate highly sophisticated predictions.

At the same time, AI technologies present unique technical risks, including biases arising from training data, the “black box” nature of decision-making processes, and the potential for unexpected behavior or erroneous judgments. Accordingly, in the research and development of defense equipment and related systems that incorporate AI technologies (hereinafter referred to as “AI-enabled defense equipment”), appropriately managing and mitigating such risks has become a critical challenge, particularly where human life and safety may be affected.

In July 2024, Japan’s Ministry of Defense established the “Basic Policy for the Promotion of AI Utilization in the Ministry of Defense.” Building upon this policy, in June 2025, the Ministry formulated the “Guidelines for Responsible AI Application in the Research and Development of Defense Equipment and Related Systems (Version 1),” which sets forth principles to be observed in the development of AI-enabled defense equipment.

As a result, future R&D projects overseen by ATLA will require a framework capable of conducting detailed quality assessments in accordance with these guidelines at each stage of development, as well as technically reviewing whether appropriate risk mitigation measures have been implemented.

Such technical reviews require not only up-to-date expertise in AI technologies, application domains, and cybersecurity, but also advanced technical knowledge and extensive experience in ensuring the safety of AI systems and conducting independent third-party quality verification.

SHIFT was selected for this engagement in recognition of its extensive track record and expertise in software quality assurance and independent verification, advanced capabilities in AI quality assessment and cybersecurity, and practical experience in defense R&D as well as national security and defense-related projects. These strengths were evaluated as meeting the rigorous technical requirements of the assignment.

[Project Overview]
Under this project, SHIFT will support ATLA in establishing a quality assessment environment and conducting technical reviews necessary to evaluate the technical validity of risk management measures in the research and development of AI-enabled defense equipment.

As a final deliverable, SHIFT will compile and submit to ATLA a comprehensive report covering the development of the quality assessment environment, the results of review support activities, and recommendations for future improvements.

[SHIFT’s Defense Sector Business]
Since entering the defense sector in 2022, SHIFT has continued to build expertise and practical knowledge in this field. In 2025, SHIFT further strengthened its commitment to the sector by establishing Japan Aerospace & Defense Consulting Inc. (“JADC,” headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Hideo Mori, President and Representative Director), a consulting firm specializing in defense-related services.

JADC provides a broad range of security consulting services, including:
– RMF Compliance Consulting Services
– Defense Industry Cybersecurity Standards Compliance Support Services
– Defense Business Eligibility Certification and Contract Support Services

Through the combined strengths of SHIFT and JADC, the Group will continue to leverage its expertise as a professional partner for both government and private-sector stakeholders in the defense domain, together with SHIFT’s core competencies in quality assurance. By doing so, the Group aims to further promote public-private collaboration in the defense sector and contribute to enhancing the safety and reliability of defense-related technologies.

JADC Corporate Website:
https://shift-jadc.jp/en/