Japan to strengthen audits of defense equipment agency

The Defense Ministry plans to strengthen its auditing capability to dispel concern over possible corruption at its new equipment agency, which will have centralized authority over procurement ,as Japan Times said.
The new agency, to be established on Oct. 1 as a Defense Ministry affiliate, will comprehensively deal with the research and development, procurement and export of defense equipment.
By consolidating the country’s procurement functions, the government aims to cut related costs.
The agency will integrate the ministry’s existing defense equipment group, the defense equipment divisions of the Ground, Maritime and Air self-defense forces, the ministry’s Equipment Procurement and Construction Office and the ministry’s Technical Research and Development Institute.
The agency will have some 1,800 personnel, including 400 uniformed SDF officers. It will aim to cut costs by promoting the use of common equipment among the Ground, Maritime and Air forces and through bulk purchases of such equipment.