Japan Defence Forum

[Suika]

Japan MoD looking into making the successor of the US-2 boatplane.

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On February 2nd it became known that the Ministry of Defense has begun genuine investigation into the successor of the highly advanced "US-2" air-sea rescue boat-plane. Development of the successor will be to maintain the high advance features of the US-2 while reducing costs of the air-frame. While reducing the financial burden on the government, it is also aimed to promote export to India and South East Asia countries as well as strengthen cooperation in the area of stability and security.

According to those related to the government, the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency and Maritime Staff Office will work with ShinMaywa Industries (Hyogo prefecture), the manufacturer of the US-2, and begin basic concept investigations. It is thought the that the name will be "US-3".

A major theme of the investigation will be to reduce the cost of the US-2, which stands at about 14 billion yen for one aircraft, while maintaining current capabilities. It is thought that plan to reduce cost will be to change out parts piece by piece for less expensive parts and improve the ways of manufacturing.

In the face of Chinese unilateral maritime advances into the South China Sea and Indian Ocean, countries positioned along Japan's sea lanes (sea lanes of communication) such as India and ASEAN countries have shown high interest in introducing the US-2.

In accordance to the three principles of transfer of defense equipment, Japan will be able to export equipment related to rescue, transport, and guard to countries that cooperate with Japan in stability and security, and it has become possible to export the US-2 equipped with "Identification friend or foe".

防衛省が、世界最高水準の性能を有する海上自衛隊の救難飛行艇「ＵＳ２」の後継機の検討に本格着手したことが２日、分かった。後継機はＵＳ２の性能を維持しながら機体の価格を引き下げる方針で開発を行う。政府の財政負担を減らすと同時に、インドや東南アジア諸国への輸出促進や安全保障面での協力強化にもつなげる狙いがある。

　防衛省関係者などによると、防衛装備庁や海上幕僚監部は、ＵＳ２を製造している新明和工業（兵庫県）との間で後継機の基本構想に関する検討を開始。名称は「ＵＳ３」などが想定されている。

　検討に際しては現性能を維持しつつ、１機あたり約１４０億円ともいわれるＵＳ２の価格をどこまで引き下げられるかが最大の課題だ。個々の部品をより安価なものに差し替えたり、製造方法に工夫に加えるなどして、コストダウンを図ることが考えられるという。

　ＵＳ２をめぐっては、南シナ海やインド洋などで中国の一方的な海洋進出に直面し、日本のシーレーン（海上交通路）上にも位置するインドや東南アジア諸国が、導入に向けて高い関心を示している。

防衛装備移転三原則によって、日本と安全保障面での協力関係がある国に救難や輸送、警戒などに関する装備品を輸出できるようになり、ＵＳ２も「敵味方識別装置」を装備したままで輸出が可能となったことも追い風となった。

　政府は、ＵＳ２などの防衛装備品の輸出を成長戦略の柱であるインフラ輸出と位置付け、関連施設の建設や機体整備、要員の訓練などと一体的に売り込むパッケージ型の輸出も想定している。ただ、ＵＳ２は機体の価格が最大のネックとなっていまだに交渉成立には至っていないことから、後継機の開発と並行で進める方針だ。
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http://www.sankei.com/politics/news/170203/plt1702030004-n1.html

 

[Suika]

JS Izumo getting refueled by JS Tokiwa on May 5th as it heads to Singapore.

http://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/izumo-sazanami/index.html

 

[Suika]

TOKYO -- Japan plans to conclude separate treaties on transfer of defense equipment and technology with Italy, Germany and Sweden that will give Japan's Self-Defense Forces access to advanced technology from those countries.

Strengthening cooperation in this area could serve as a check against China, which has been expanding its military presence in Asia-Pacific waters.

Under the envisaged accords, using the jointly developed equipment for purposes other than those initially agreed to or transferring the equipment to a third-party country would require advance consent from the other treaty member.

Japan already has such agreements in place with the U.S., Australia, India, the Philippines, the U.K. and France.

Japan agreed to begin negotiations with Italy when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met his Italian counterpart, Paolo Gentiloni, in March. Later this month, Italian Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti will visit Japan, where she will meet with her Japanese counterpart, Tomomi Inada, to discuss ways to conclude the treaty as early as possible.

Italy is a maritime nation and possesses advanced technology on naval guns as well as radar for vessels and patrol aircraft. Keen to bolster its maritime capabilities, Japan is eager to find areas of collaboration.

Talks with Germany are already underway. The European country boasts strength in ground equipment; the gun barrels for the Type-90 battle tanks used by Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force were developed by a German company. Japanese-made tanks, meanwhile, excel in mobility and acceleration. The two countries see a high potential for synergy in developing tanks together.

Japan is interested in Sweden's air-independent propulsion technology, which enables submarines to remain underwater for long periods. Japan's Defense Ministry officials hope to collaborate with the country to gain access to such know-how.

Regarding China's growing territorial ambitions in the South China Sea, Japan and Europe have expressed their intention to follow the basic principles of the international community and not accept attempts by other governments to change the status quo in the region by force. Strengthening their defense cooperation is seen as a way of countering China's moves.
http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Eco...rs-defense-technology-cooperation-with-Europe

 

[Suika]

The French Mistral Amphibious Assault Ship arrived at Sasebo, Japan on April 29th.

And it will conduct joint-training including amphibious training with Japan, the US, and Great Britain near Guam from May 3rd until May 22nd.
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HAGATNA, Guam (AP) - Troops from the U.S., Japan and two European nations are gathering on remote U.S. islands in the Pacific for drills they say will show support for the free passage of vessels in international waters amid fears China could restrict movement in the South China Sea.

The drills around Guam and Tinian may also send a message to North Korea about the U.S. commitment to the region and the breadth of its allies. Tensions between the U.S. and North Korea spiked last month after Pyongyang launched a ballistic missile and the U.S. sent an aircraft carrier strike group to the region.

The drills, which are led by France and include the United Kingdom, will practice amphibious landings, delivering forces by helicopter and urban patrols.

Two ships from France are participating, both of which are in the middle of a four-month deployment to the Indian and Pacific oceans. Joining are U.K. helicopters and 70 U.K. troops deployed with the French amphibious assault ship FS Mistral. Parts of the exercise will feature British helicopters taking U.S. Marines ashore from a French ship.

"The message we want to send is that we're always ready to train and we're always ready for the next crisis and humanitarian disaster wherever that may be," said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col Kemper Jones, the commander of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. About 100 Marines from Jones' unit will be part of the drills slated for this weekend and next week.

China claims virtually the entire South China Sea and has aggressively tried to fortify its foothold in recent years by transforming seven mostly submerged reefs into island outposts, some with runways and radars and - more recently - weapons systems. This has prompted criticism from other nations, who also claim the atolls, and from the United States, which insists on freedom of navigation in international waters.

Critics fear China's actions could restrict movement in a key waterway for world trade and rich fishing grounds.

China says its island construction is mainly for civilian purposes, particularly to increase safety for ships. It has said it won't interfere with freedom of navigation or overflight, although questions remain on whether that includes military ships and aircraft.

Mira Rapp-Hooper of the Center for New American Security, a Washington think tank, said the exercises will send a strong message in support of a "rules-based order in Asia" at a time when China's actions have raised questions about this.

"A reminder in this exercise is that lots of other countries besides the United States have an interest in that international order," said Rapp-Hooper, who is a senior fellow with the center's Asia-Pacific Security Program.

The exercises come amid modestly growing European interest in the South China Sea, said David Santoro, a senior fellow for nuclear policy at Pacific Forum CSIS, a Honolulu think tank.

"What I'm hearing from the French and to some degree the British, is an increased interest in what's going on in Asia and how they can help," Santoro said. As for North Korea, Santoro said Pyongyang would likely be watching but he didn't think the exercises were intended to send any signal to the country.

Japan, which is sending 50 soldiers and 160 sailors and landing craft, has been investing in amphibious training so it can defend its own islands. Tokyo is particularly concerned China might attempt to take over rocky, uninhabited outcrops in the East China Sea that it controls but Beijing claims. Japan calls the islands Senkaku while China calls them Diaoyu. Japan has also expressed an interest in vessels being able to freely transit the South China Sea.

Guam and Tinian are about 1,500 miles (2,414 kilometers) south of Tokyo. They're about the same distance to the east from Manila, Philippines.
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http://www.walb.com/story/35401199/us-japan-france-uk-practice-amphibious-landings-on-guam

Japan MoD report on it:
http://www.mod.go.jp/js/Press/press2017/press_pdf/p20170428_01.pdf

Mistral and JS Kunisaki together.

French helicopter landing on JS Kunisaki.

Exchanging ceremonial items onboard JS Kunisaki.

JMSDF officer working onboard Mistral.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1445241348870912

 

[Deidara]

I have seen videos of american community in Japan on youtube. No one person ever mentioned politics. Your postings here seem suspect.

 

[Suika]

I have seen videos of american community in Japan on youtube. No one person ever mentioned politics. Your postings here seem suspect.

I don't understand what you mean by suspect. I'm not creating fake articles, videos, and pictures...

If your asking me to post about politics between Japan and the US, I can, such as base issues regarding Okinawa, but it's another long wall of text.

 

[Deidara]

I don't understand what you mean by suspect. I'm not creating fake articles, videos, and pictures...

If your asking me to post about politics between Japan and the US, I can, such as base issues regarding Okinawa, but it's another long wall of text.

All i am saying is that Gaijin in Japan are apolitical. Defence falls within politics.

 

[grey boy 2]

I don't understand what you mean by suspect. I'm not creating fake articles, videos, and pictures...

If your asking me to post about politics between Japan and the US, I can, such as base issues regarding Okinawa, but it's another long wall of text.

But you're creating faked identity of yourself, thats even worst

 

[Suika]

All i am saying is that Gaijin in Japan are apolitical. Defence falls within politics.

Oh.. I see now, lol.

Here is a "gaijin" on youtube that is interested in politics.

I'm another one of those rare types. His Japanese is better than mine.

But you're creating faked identity of yourself, thats even worst

Who cares about my identity really is. Whether or not I'm American, Japanese, some place in Africa, or Martian, the content is what it is. I said who I am, as represented by the flags to the left, take or leave it, quit trolling, I am not obligated to prove it.

 

[Deidara]

Oh.. I see now, lol.

Here is a "gaijin" on youtube that is interested in politics.

I'm another one of those rare types. His Japanese is better than mine.

2 hrs long video. Of course i cant watch it especially when i dont understand a word they are saying. But you are a very hard working person. I love all hard working people.

 

[grey boy 2]

Who cares about my identity really is[/B]. Whether or not I'm American, Japanese, some place in Africa, or Martian, the content is what it is. I said who I am, as represented by the flags to the left, take or leave it, quit trolling, I am not obligated to prove it.

Thats the real problem to begin with LOL, because you've been suffering "identity crisis" for your whole life, in other words, "self-hating" synonym, thats why you keep coming to troll threads thats related to Chinese as sometimes a "Japanese" other time as an "American" but never could be comfortable with your true identity
I suggest you to get help quick before its too late

 

[Suika]

Thats the real problem to begin with LOL, because you've been suffering "identity crisis" for your whole life, in other words, "self-hating" synonym, thats why you keep coming to troll threads thats related to Chinese as sometimes a "Japanese" other time as an "American" but never could be comfortable with your true identity
I suggest you to get help quick before its too late

lol, funny stuff

 

[F-22Raptor]

Japan is leaning towards choosing the Aegis Ashore missile-defense system over another advanced system called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), government and ruling party sources said.

Faced with North Korea's rapid missile and nuclear development, and its threats, Japan has been looking into introducing a new missile-defense layer - either the THAAD or the Aegis Ashore, a land-based version of the Aegis system developed for war ships.

Lockheed Martin Corp makes both systems.

The government now favors the Aegis Ashore system as it comes with a wider coverage area, which would mean fewer units needed to protect Japan, and it is also cheaper, three government and two ruling party sources said.

The sources, who spoke this week, declined to be identified because they are not authorized to speak to media on the topic.

An Aegis Ashore unit costs about 70 billion-80 billion yen ($618 million-$706 million), while a THAAD unit costs more than 100 billion yen, the sources said.

Also, the introduction of Aegis Ashore would help reduce the burden of round-the-clock vigilance shouldered by Japanese warships equipped with the Aegis system, they said.

The government will make a final decision on the new system in coming months, after sending, possibly this month, an inspection team to Hawaii, where U.S. forces operate Aegis Ashore test facilities, they said.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party in March urged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government to consider acquiring the capability to hit enemy bases and to beef up missile defense.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-northkorea-missiles-idUSKBN18909T

Smart choice by Japan. Aegis Ashore gives Japan more options in the event of hostilities. Aegis Ashore could eventually be armed with the tri-capable SM-6 or Tomahawk cruise missile, along with SM-3.

 

[Suika]

And with Aegis ashore, it would reduce dependency of BMD on their Kongo and Atago class destroyers. With less dependency on these destroyers, then these destroyers should be able to load up on more tomahawk missiles if need be. Also the latest SM-3 missile, the SM3 Block 2A, was jointly developed between the US and Japan, so purchasing more SM-3 Block 2A capable systems benefits the Japanese defense industry more than THAAD would.

http://www.mod.go.jp/j/approach/agenda/meeting/seisan/sonota/pdf/05/001.pdf

 

[Suika]

20th test flight, take off and landing.