Griffon Marine was honoured to welcome Her Excellency Julia Longbottom CMG, British Ambassador to Japan, to its Portchester facility on Thursday 3rd July 2025. The visit marked a key milestone in strengthening UK-Japan defence collaboration and provided an opportunity to showcase Griffon’s flagship Wyvern-J programme, a next-generation military hovercraft developed with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

During the visit, Ambassador Longbottom was given an in-depth tour of Griffon Marine’s world-class operations, which span cutting-edge design, precision manufacturing, and international training and support.

With the Design and Solutions Centre, Ambassador Longbottom was shown the latest development in Wyvern-J, including Griffon’s use of immersive Virtual Reality technology to help the JMSDF refine the cockpit layout and ergonomics. James and Kailen, key members of the engineering team, demonstrated how Griffon’s UK-based talent is leading the way in human-machine interface and modular hovercraft design.

On the Shipyard floor, the Ambassador observed skilled tradespeople at work, from welding and propulsion system assembly to electrical integration. Dean, Shipyard Manager, also introduced several of Griffon’s apprentices, underlining the company’s commitment to local skills development and long-term investment in the Portchester community.

In the Support and Training division, Dan highlighted Griffon’s global reach, including its long-standing support operations in Japan. Ambassador Longbottom viewed footage of recent training exercises, and a map detailing the worldwide deployment of Griffon hovercraft which underscored the company’s international footprint.

The visit was an opportunity for Griffon Marine to brief the Ambassador on the strategic and economic potential of the Wyvern-J programme, not only for UK-Japan defence ties, but also for Portchester, a region ranked among the most deprived in England.

Mark Downer, CEO of Griffon Marine, said:
“We were delighted to host Ambassador Longbottom and share the ambition, capability and social value that Griffon Marine represents. Wyvern-J is more than an advanced hovercraft,  it’s a symbol of British innovation and international partnership. Programmes like this have the potential to transform communities like Portchester by bringing high-skilled jobs, apprenticeships and investment into the area.”

Julia Longbottom, British Ambassador to Japan:
“Griffon Marine is a great example of British engineering excellence with a global impact. I was particularly impressed by the company’s forward-thinking approach to design and international collaboration. The Wyvern-J programme demonstrates the kind of UK-Japan partnership that delivers innovation, strengthens defence capability, and brings real economic benefit to local communities.”

The Wyvern-J is a new-generation hovercraft platform developed by Griffon Marine for the JMSDF, designed to operate in extreme coastal and littoral environments. With strong export potential, the programme represents a major opportunity for the UK’s defence sector and regional regeneration alike.