munitions; military supplies
Refers to military equipment, weapons, ammunition, and other supplies needed by armed forces. Often used in compounds like 軍需産業 (defense industry) or 軍需物資 (military materiel).
The munitions industry grew significantly during the war.
The government is rushing to procure military supplies.
The factory increased production to meet military demand.
Research into diverting civilian technology for military use is progressing.
軍備 refers to a nation's overall military armament or preparedness, while 軍需 focuses on the concrete supplies and materiel needed by the armed forces.
軍需 refers to military demand or supplies (as in economic/industrial contexts), whereas 軍用 simply marks the purpose 'for military use'.
民需 is civilian demand for goods, the direct opposite of 軍需, which is demand for military supplies.
Compound of 軍 (military) and 需 (demand, need), literally 'military needs'. The term became common in modern Japanese with the development of a formal military logistics system.