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Japan Defence Forum

Land Platforms
MAST Asia 2017: Mitsubishi Amphibious Vehicle breaks cover
Ridzwan Rahmat, Tokyo - IHS Jane's Navy International 13 June 2017

Key Points

  • Mitsubishi has unveiled details of a tracked amphibious vehicle it is proposing to Japan's army
  • Vehicle is intended to boost the service's amphibious transport capabilities
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A model of the Mitsubishi Amphibious Vehicle, depicted in water operation mode, on display at MAST Asia 2017. (IHS/Ridzwan Rahmat)

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has revealed further details of a tracked amphibious vehicle demonstrator it is currently proposing for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF).

The details were revealed at the MAST Asia 2017 defence exhibition and conference, which is taking place in Tokyo from 12-14 June. According MHI officials who spoke to Jane's at the exhibition, the Mitsubishi Amphibious Vehicle has been designed to achieve both good manoeuvrability on land, and relatively higher speeds in the water in comparison to other amphibious vehicles in the market today.

http://www.janes.com/article/71355/mast-asia-2017-mitsubishi-amphibious-vehicle-breaks-cover
 
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Air Platforms
MAST Asia 2017: Japan unveils further details of multipurpose trimaran concept proposal for JMSDF
Ridzwan Rahmat, Tokyo - IHS Jane's Navy International 13 June 2017

Key Points

  • Japan has unveiled further details of a trimaran concept it has been working on since 2014
  • Platform is intended to fill the gap between the JMSDF's large surface combatants and small patrol boats
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A model of the trimaran concept being proposed by ATLA to the JMSDF. (IHS/Ridzwan Rahmat)

The Japanese Ministry of Defense's (MoD's) acquisition, technology & logistics agency (ATLA) has unveiled further details of a multipurpose trimaran concept that is being proposed to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

A study for the concept was first initiated in 2014 in response to a requirement for a platform that can swiftly respond to naval mine threats, but it has since evolved to fill a perceived gap between the JMSDF's larger surface combatants and smaller patrol craft, according to an ATLA official who spoke to Jane's at the MAST Asia 2017 defence exhibition and conference in Tokyo.

http://www.janes.com/article/71354/...tipurpose-trimaran-concept-proposal-for-jmsdf
 
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https://sputniknews.com/military/201706141054607513-japan-missile-defence-drills-dprk/

Japan will begin military drills involving air and missile defense interceptors amid the threat from North Korea.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Japan will begin military drills involving Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) air and missile defense interceptors amid the threat from North Korea, local media reported Tuesday, citing the country's defense ministry officials.

Earlier in the day, Japan's Defense Minister Tomomi Inada announced the start of the exercises on Thursday while the officials in her ministry said that the drills would be conducted at four military bases and posts across the country, Japan's NHK broadcaster reported.

According to the media, this is the first time that the plans to hold such military exercises are made public by the Japan authorities.

Inada underlined the importance to improve tactical skills in dealing with ballistic missiles amid the increasing severity of the security environment surrounding Japan, the broadcaster reported. The minister also announced the Defense Ministry's plans to hold joint drills with the United States were aimed at strengthening missile defense, the report added.

Over the recent months, Pyongyang carried out a number of missile launches including the reported salvo of short-range surface-to-ship missiles on Thursday. The tests were criticized by the international community and raised the security concerns of the neighboring countries.

PAC-3 is a high-velocity interceptor defending against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and aircraft.

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https://sputniknews.com/military/201706141054608154-japan-f-35-test-flight/

The first F-35 fighter jet assembled in Japan completed its maiden flight, local media reported Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The aircraft's test flight from an airport in Japan's central Aichi prefecture took about two hours, Japan's NHK broadcaster reported.

The Japanese Defense Ministry officials who checked the plane's functions, noted the aircraft's ability to maneuver and said everything was functioning normally, the reports added.

After several more tests in Japan, the F-35 fighter jet will be used in training flights in the United States, according to the broadcaster.

On June 5, the US defense and aerospace company Lockheed Martin announced in a press release that the Japanese manufacturing company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has successfully assembled the first of 38 F-35 fighters in a US-supervised contract. The Japanese Ministry of Defense selected the F-35 as the nation’s next-generation air defense fighter jet in December 2011, and won US approval for a fleet of 42 jets, the release explained.

The first four jets were previously built in the United States and delivered to Japan, while the remaining 38 will be assembled by Mitsubishi under supervision of Lockheed Martin and US government officials, according to the document.

F-35 is a single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed for many missions with advanced, integrated sensors built into every aircraft.
 
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That's an old picture of the F-35A in that Sputnik article. It's from 2014 at the 60th anniversary of the Self-Defense Force and it was possibly not a real F-35A but just a model.
 
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On June 14th, it has become known that the National Security Investigating Committee of the LDP (parliament member Chairman Imazu Hiroshi) put together an interim report draft for the next midterm defense buildup plan (2019-2023). As North Korea continues in nuclear and missile development, it became clear that investigations are being carried out in strengthening ballistic missile defense (BMD) by introducing new equipment, and in possessing "enemy-base strike ability" which is attacking an enemy base abroad.

Concerning possessing the ability to attack an enemy base, the draft requires "the government to promptly initiate investigation towards realization and fully build up provisions." Regarding ballistic missile defense, the current investigation into the introduction of the land based aegis system "Aegis Ashore" and the latest US missile interception system "Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile (THAAD)" are to be concluded quickly.

About the defense budget that has been maintained at around 1% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the demand made by the Trump administration towards member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to achieve the goal of a defense budget of 2% has been indicated. "On the basis of the severe national security environment, a sufficient scale is to be assured" is written.

For major equipment, along with increasing the number of F-35A advance stealth fighters that currently 42 are planned to be introduced by the JASDF, it is required that the JMSDF increases the number of submarines, destroyers, and so on. Also, in order to increase information gathering capabilities, there is a requirement to investigate into Japan's own early warning satellites.

Meanwhile it is proposed that the Self-Defense Force should be able to do cyber attacks. Against cyber attacks from other countries, the necessity of carrying out legal liquidation was indicated regarding employing the right to self-defense.

Points of the LDP interim report draft
ーbegin investigation into possessing the ability to attack an enemy base
ーintroduction of new equipment like Aegis Ashore and/or THAAD
ーreference to the 2% of GDP of NATO members for the defense budget
ーincrease the number of F-35As, submarines, and destroyers
ーinvestigation into Japan's own early warning satellites
ーSelf=Defense Force possessing the ability to do cyber attacks.(2017/06/14-19:17)

自民党の安全保障調査会(会長・今津寛衆院議員)が次期中期防衛力整備計画(2019~23年度)に向けてまとめた中間報告原案が14日、分かった。北朝鮮が核・ミサイル開発を進める中、弾道ミサイル防衛(BMD)態勢を強化する新規装備品導入や国外の敵基地を攻撃する「敵基地攻撃能力」の保有検討を明記した。
 原案は敵基地攻撃能力の保有に関し、「政府が実現に向けた検討を迅速に開始し、万全の備えを構築する」ことを求めた。弾道ミサイル防衛では、陸上配備型イージスシステム「イージス・アショア」や米最新鋭地上配備型迎撃システム「高高度防衛ミサイル(THAAD)」の導入に向けた結論を急ぐよう促した。
 国内総生産(GDP)比1%前後で推移している防衛費については、トランプ米政権が北大西洋条約機構(NATO)加盟国に対し、国防費をGDP比2%とする目標達成を求めていると指摘。「厳しい安全保障環境を踏まえ、十分な規模を確保する」と明記した。 
 具体的な装備品では、航空自衛隊が42機導入するF35A最新鋭ステルス戦闘機の機数をさらに増やすとともに、海上自衛隊の潜水艦や護衛艦などの隻数増も要求。また、情報収集能力を強化するため、日本独自の早期警戒衛星導入へ向けた検討を求めた。
 一方、自衛隊がサイバー攻撃能力を備えるべきだと提案。他国からのサイバー攻撃に対し、自衛権行使に関する法的整理を行う必要性を指摘した。
◇自民中間報告原案のポイント
 一、敵基地攻撃能力の保有に向けた検討開始
 一、イージス・アショアやTHAADの新規装備品を導入
 一、防衛費はNATO加盟国のGDP比2%を参考
 一、F35Aや潜水艦、護衛艦の機・隻数増
 一、日本独自の早期警戒衛星の導入検討
 一、自衛隊のサイバー攻撃能力保有(2017/06/14-19:17)
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http://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2017061401117&g=pol
 
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Japan’s troops trained to use Patriot air-and-missile defense systems.

https://sputniknews.com/asia/201706151054646063-japan-train-use-patriots/

TOKYO (Sputnik) — Japan’s troops trained on Thursday to use Patriot air-and-missile defense systems against a threat from North Korea, local media reported.

The one-hour exercise took place at the Komaki base in the Aichi prefecture, the NHK news channel said. There was no live fire.

Japanese self-defense forces reportedly drove the system to the base, prepared it for the launch and pointed the missiles toward the sky.

Two more drills will take place at other bases in Japan. They were called by the Defense Ministry after North Korea conducted a series of missile tests this year, with several projectiles plunging into waters in Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

The Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) is a high-velocity interceptor that can defend against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and planes.

Japan's Defense Minister Tomomi Inada announced the start of the exercises on Wednesday. She said it was important to hone tactical skills, citing a severe security climate. The Defense Ministry also plans to hold joint drills with the United States, she said.
 
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http://saudigazette.com.sa/world/swimming-robot-probe-damage-japan-nuclear-plant/

A remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV), developed by Japan's Toshiba and the International Research Institute for Nuclear Decommissioning (IRID), navigates through a pool during a press preview at the IRID facilities in Yokosuka, a suburb of Tokyo, on June 15, 2017. — AFP

A newly developed robot mockup for underwater investigation for a Fukushima's damaged reactor is displayed at a Toshiba Corp. test facility in Yokosuka near Tokyo Thursday, June 15, 2017. — AP

Newly developed robot for underwater investigation at the Fukushima's damaged reactor, moves in the water at a Toshiba Corp. test facility in Yokosuka near Tokyo, Thursday, June 15, 2017. — AP


YOKOSUKA, JAPAN — A Japanese industrial group unveiled Thursday a robot designed for underwater probes of damage from meltdowns at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Remote controlled robots are key to the decades-long decommissioning process for the plant. But super-high radiation and structural damage inside the reactors hampered earlier attempts to inspect areas close to the reactors’ cores.

The developers say they plan to send the new “mini manbo,” or “little sunfish,” probe into the primary containment vessel of Unit 3 at Fukushima in July to study the extent of damage and locate parts of melted fuel thought to have fallen to the bottom of the chamber, submerged by highly radioactive water.

The robot, about the size of a loaf of bread, is equipped with lights, maneuvers with tail propellers and collects data using two cameras and a dosimeter.

During Thursday’s demonstration at a test facility near Tokyo, the probe slowly slid down a rail and glided across the water. A team operated it remotely, with one guiding the robot while another adjusted a cable that transmits data and serves as the robot’s lifeline. The probe entered a mock-up of a containment vessel, its lights glowing in the murky water.

Officials want to send the probe swim deep into the reactor to illuminate the area underneath its core. “The major advantage is it can avoid various obstacles,” said Tsutomu Takeuchi, a senior manager at the nuclear energy division of Toshiba, the electronics and energy company charged with helping clean up the plant.

Japan hopes to locate and start removing fuel from the reactors after Tokyo’s 2020 Olympics.

Snake and scorpion-shaped robots tested earlier became stuck inside two reactors. The scorpion robot’s crawling function failed and it was left inside the plant’s Unit 2 containment vessel. The other, designed to clear debris for the “scorpion” probe, was called back after two hours when two of its cameras stopped working after its total radiation exposure reached 1,000 Sievert — a level that would kill a human within seconds. The plan had been to use the robot for 10 hours at an exposure level of 100 Sievert per hour.

The swimming robot was co-developed Toshiba and the International Research Institute for Nuclear Decommissioning, or IRID, a government-funded consortium.

IRID and its partners have designed other basic robots, including a “muscle” arm robot made by Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, and a different arm robot made by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, that are designed to approach the debris from the sides of the reactors.

IRID director Hirotsugu Fujiwara said the biggest challenge is to figure out how to remove melted debris. He’s keen to finally see conditions inside Unit 3. “I feel we are finally at the starting line of decommissioning,” he said.

Scientists need to know the melted nuclear fuel’s exact location and understand structural damage in each of the three wrecked reactors to work out the optimum, safest way to remove the fuel.

“The fuel debris will be a challenge,” said Dale Klein, a former U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission chief, who now serves as an outside adviser to the Tokyo Electric Power Co., the plant’s operator. He said it could take six months to a year to obtain necessary data and decide on how to remove the fuel.

“No one in the world has ever had to remove material like this before. So this is something new and it would have to be done carefully and accurately,” Klein said.

Japanese officials say they want to determine preliminary removal methods this summer and start work in 2021.

TEPCO is struggling with the plant’s decommissioning, which is now expected to cost 8 trillion yen ($70 billion), four times an earlier estimate. Part of that cost will be included in Japanese utility bills.

The 2011 meltdown forced tens of thousands of nearby residents to evacuate their homes. Many are still unable to return due to high radiation levels.
 
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USS Ronald Reagan and JS Izumo conducted joint-cruising training in the South China Sea from June 13th to June 15th.
http://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/formal/info/news/201706/20170616-01.pdf

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New Zealand's HMNZS Te Kaha conducted multi-lateral training with the JMSDF, USN, and RCN.
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The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is taking part this week in a multilateral defence exercise in Japanese water that involves detecting, tracking and conducting simulated attacks on enemy submarines.

The Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Kaha will join the Japanese destroyer JS Inazuma, the Canadian frigates HMCS Winnipeg and Ottawa and United States Navy ships and aircraft in Exercise Pacific Guardian.

This year’s exercise, which will be held from 15-18 June south of Shikoku, Japan’s fourth-largest island, will include combined anti-submarine warfare exercises, surface gunnery and helicopter landings on each other’s vessels.

“It is an opportunity to demonstrate and progress our defence co-operation with partner navies by training together at a tactical level,” Te Kaha Commanding Officer Steve Lenik said.

Te Kaha would send a crew member to serve as liaison officer on the Japanese destroyer and would host a US Navy officer on board during the exercise, Commander Lenik said.

In February, the NZDF deployed a naval task group comprising Te Kaha and the replenishment tanker HMNZS Endeavour for six months of training and activities in 12 countries across the Asia-Pacific region. Since then both ships have trained with the Royal Australian Navy off the coast of Australia and joined a Five Power Defence Arrangements (United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore) exercise in Singapore.

Te Kaha has also visited ports and exercised with the navies of a number of Asian countries, including China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and South Korea.
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http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/news/media-r...ing-submarines-in-joint-exercise-in-japan.htm

It marked the 21st time a New Zealand warship has visited Japan. The last time was 4 years ago. It will stay from June 19th until June 23rd.
http://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/formal/info/news/201706/20170613-03.pdf
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Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force in the multilateral Exercise Southern Jackaroo 2017 with Australia and the US.
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DARWIN, Australia — Australia’s “Outback” is home to some of the world’s most exotic and dangerous animals, and its desolate plains – coupled with scorching heat – offer a challenge of a lifetime to the most physically fit and mentally tough Soldier.

From May 18-June 2, Soldiers assigned to B Company, “Bulls,” 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, tested their mettle in the Outback, participating in exercise Southern Jackaroo 2017, or SJ, an annual, trilateral military training exercise sponsored by Australia Defense Force with participation of elements of the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force and U.S. Marine Rotational Force-Darwin.

SJ 2017 is one of many annual multinational military training exercises aimed at enhancing professional partnerships, operational readiness and interoperability between U.S. Pacific Command and allied partners within the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Rim regions.

“Exercise Southern Jackaroo is all about improving that critical defense collateral relationship between the defense forces of the U.S., Japan and Australia,” said the commander of 1st Bde., Australian Army, Brigadier Ben James. “Train hard and fight easy – that’s what we are doing out here at Mount Bundey Training Area. Soldiers from all three nations are learning tough lessons about surviving in the field and how best to work alongside each other: It’s been a great exercise.”

“Southern Jackaroo offers an opportunity for our Soldiers to gain a deeper understanding of how we fit into the Pacific area of operation,” said Lt. Col. James Hart, commander of 1-21st Inf. Bn. “It also provides an understanding of the capabilities that our Australian, Japanese and Marine partners (U.S.) bring to the fight: how to operate in a joint environment.”

SJ originally started in 2013 as a combined marksmanship event following the Australian Army Skills at Arms Meeting, a shooting event that involves over 12 nations.

In 2015, SJ evolved into a field training and live-fire exercise with the Australian Army’s Ready Bde. hosting the event.

This year’s exercise was hosted by the Australian Army’s 1st Bde. and included an emphasis on live fire at the platoon level and company level within a Battle Group construct.

“It was very rewarding to see leaders at all levels coordinating directly and effectively with their peers of a different nationality in tactical situations, and to see Soldiers of all ranks gravitating to each other during down periods to learn more and develop as a team,” said Capt. John Voss, commander for B Co., 1-21st Inf. Bn.

SJ 2017 incorporated blank and live-fire scenarios, dismounted and mounted offensive actions, sniper/marksmanship training and defensive operations.

Training for this year’s exercise occurred at the Mount Bundey Training Area in Australia’s Northern Territory, which proved to be a unique and highly physically demanding training environment for the Soldiers of B Co.

“The outback is uniquely demanding. In order to maintain the effectiveness of the individual Soldier over time, we learned how to plan operations to minimize the physical burden during the hottest part of the day and incorporate water sustainment in every aspect of the mission,” said Voss. “We also learned to maximize equipment that is not traditionally necessary, like mosquito nets and sun shade.”

One of the common themes throughout the exercise was how all three nations embraced their differences. Using them as learning lessons, they could incorporate in their own training, but also leveraged similarities to build camaraderie.

“Although, there are differences, we are all quite similar,” said Pvt. Zac Nathan, a Soldier assigned to 1st Bde., Australian Army. “Southern Jackaroo will help the Australian military in future training; the U.S. military uses a much faster pace when conducting TTPs and missions in urban environments. We can take this as a learning point towards how we train.”

“The biggest take-away for the Bulls is how similar we are to our partners, said Voss. “We do a few things differently, but at the end of the day, we know we could swap out individual Soldiers or entire platoons with a partnered Australian unit and not miss a beat.”
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http://www.hawaiiarmyweekly.com/201...ltinational-military-partnerships-in-outback/

Video of the exercise:
http://video.army.gov.au/play/5168














Two B-1Bs from Guam and two F-15Js from Nyutabaru conducted joint flight training to improve counter response on June 20th in the airspace around Kyushu. The two B-1Bs continued onward and did training with the ROKAF.
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http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/news/houdou/H29/290620.html






Military officers from all 10 ASEAN countries boarded JS Izumo for 5 days in the SCS but outside the 9 dash line area.
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Japan's largest warship steamed into the South China Sea this week in defiance of Chinese assertiveness, with Asian military guests on board to witness helicopters looping over the tropical waters and gunners blasting target buoys.

China claims most of the energy-rich sea through which about$5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year, much of it to and from Japanese ports. Neighbors Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.

Japan worries that China is cementing its control in the South China Sea with manmade island bases, arms sales and development aid.

"We are not just here to show our presence, but from the outside that is what it looks like," Rear Admiral Yoshihiro Goga, the commander of the mission, said aboard the Izumo-class helicopter carrier.

Military officers from the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) boarded the 248-meter carrier in Singapore on Monday. It returned on Friday after demonstrating naval skills and kit Tokyo hopes will help it bolster alliances in the region.

The Izumo turned back to Singapore before crossing a boundary known as the nine-dash-line into what China claims are its waters.

The high-profile cruise was part of a hitherto unseen coordinated push by Japan's Self Defense Forces and defense bureaucrats to bolster ties with countries ringing the contested waters. It also marked a concerted push into military diplomacy by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Japan last week held a military technology seminar near Tokyo for representatives from Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore and this week invited ASEAN officers to a disaster relief drill in Tokyo.

Abe's government believes Japan may be better placed to prise Southeast Asian nations away from Chinese influence than its U.S. allies with a gentler approach that emphasizes a common Asian heritage, two sources with knowledge of the diplomatic strategy told Reuters earlier.

While the U.S. has confronted China directly by sending warships close to China's island bases in the South China Sea, Japan so far has shied away from similar provocations.

As the Izumo neared the nine-dash line, the crew were on lookout for Chinese aircraft or ships sent to shadow the flag ship. Apart from brief radar contact with an unidentified aircraft announced by the ship's public address system the carrier, however, sailed on unmolested.
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https://japantoday.com/category/pol...s-asian-guests-on-cruise-in-defiance-of-china

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https://sputniknews.com/military/201706271055026037-japan-offensive-capabilities-f35-missiles/
The Japanese Self-Defense Force (JSDF) is making moves to enhance its return on investment in F-35 fighters by equipping the aircraft with Joint Strike Missiles designed by Norway’s Kongsberg Defence Systems, the South China Morning Post reported.
“Japan has never
previously had anything like this,” defense analyst Lance Gatling of Nexial Research Inc. told the news outlet on Tuesday.

The F-35 can maintain its stealth profile while carrying the weapons, which allows pilots to soar “much closer to targets” when they launch the missiles, Gatling added.

As a self-defense outfit, the JSDF has been reluctant to procure offensive weapons capability, but Tokyo’s posture is shifting as potential regional threats loom on the Korean Peninsula and in the South and East China Seas. Upgrading strike capabilities for the F-35 is a natural decision for policymakers in light of such developments, Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper, reported on June 27.

Japan’s constitution doesn’t prevent the JSDF from targeting and firing at foreign military assets, Tokyo’s government has said according to the Post. Nevertheless, Japan’s increasingly militaristic posture is unlikely to go unnoticed by Pyongyang, which worries about an imperialist Japan regaining strength and preparing for invasion with US and South Korea forces.

Beijing is also likely to question Japan’s motives for obtaining the deadly weapons. As Gatling points out, however, it’s unlikely Japan would use the missiles to target China’s mainland.

Kongsberg designed the Joint Strike Missiles as “a modern weapon system for [Norway’s] new [F-35] aircraft,” the company says on its website. The missile can navigate via modalities including GPS and inertial and terrain reference guidance systems for anti-surface warfare (ASW) and Naval Fire Support (NFS) missions, the weapons maker said. The bomb can hit targets up to 300 kilometers (186 miles) away.
 
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US-Japan joint-training at Hawaii next year in the use of anti-ship missiles.
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It became known on the 24th that the US military will carry out joint-training with the Self-Defense Force using JGSDF surface-to-ship guided missiles (SSM). In order to strengthen deterrence and countermeasures, it will be fitted into the Rim of the Pacific exercise (Rimpac) schedule next summer at Hawaii. A US military that does not posses SSMs will learn from the JGSDF about the know-how on equipment and operation, and then coming into view is invoking the SDF Nansei defense to the South China Sea.

The JGSDF's advanced SSMs, like the "Type 12" are a pillar to the strengthening of the Nansei defense which is based on the threats of Chinese Naval warships. Equipping and deployment first started for a Soviet invasion of Hokkaido, but now a shift was made to Nansei defense towards China becoming the target of threat. While on the other hand, for a US whose threat from the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans became more distant no longer has a need for SSM for coastal defense.

However, the US military showing a desire to operate SSMs now is coming from a recognition of their necessity in the shift against China in the South China Sea. Reflecting that was when US Pacific Fleet Commander Harris made a speech in May in Tokyo where he said "indicated a strengthening in the ability to sink ships (for US ground based units) by having to look into plans for island chain defense". With SSMs in mind he also said "learn from the JGSDF".

The island chain indicates the 1st island chain that goes from Kyushu to Okinawa and the Philippines. This defense would be placing SSMs along ally and friendly nations such as the Philippines and Indonesia along this islands to exercise authority over Chinese naval warships.

Giving some maritime defense weight to US land based units is part of a new US military concept called multi-domain battle. It is assessed as taking the growing JGSDF Nansei defense in the East China Sea and expanding it to the South China Sea, and by doing so is the aim of confining Chinese warships within the interior of the 1st island chain.

自衛隊と米軍が、陸上自衛隊の地対艦誘導弾(SSM)を使った共同訓練を初めて実施することが24日、分かった。中国艦艇への抑止力と対処力を強化するためで、来夏のハワイでの米海軍主催による環太平洋合同演習(リムパック)で行う調整に入った。SSMを保有していない米軍は装備・運用のノウハウを陸自から習得し、自衛隊の南西防衛を南シナ海に援用することを視野に入れている。

 陸自の最新鋭SSMは「12式」で、中国海軍艦艇の脅威を踏まえた南西防衛強化の柱。旧ソ連の北海道侵攻に備える装備として配備が始まり、喫緊の脅威対象が中国に移ったことで南西防衛にシフトさせた。一方、太平洋と大西洋で脅威対象から距離的に離れている米国に沿岸防衛用のSSMは不要とされてきた。

 だが、ここにきて米軍がSSM運用に意欲を示すのは、南シナ海での対中シフトに不可欠だと認識しているためだ。それを象徴するのが米太平洋軍のハリス司令官が5月に東京都内で行った講演で、ハリス氏は「列島線防衛の新しい方策を検討すべきで(米陸上部隊に)艦艇を沈める能力の強化を指示した」と発言。SSMを念頭に「陸自から学びたい」とも述べた。

 列島線は九州から沖縄、フィリピンなどに至る第1列島線を指す。その防衛とは列島線沿いにある同盟国や友好国のフィリピンやインドネシアなどと連携してSSMを置き、中国海軍艦艇ににらみを利かせる。

米陸上部隊に海上防衛を担わせることは、マルチ・ドメイン・バトル(複数領域での戦闘)という米軍の新たな構想の一環。東シナ海で進めている陸自の南西防衛を南シナ海に拡大するものとも位置づけられ、それにより中国艦艇を第1列島線の内側に封じ込める狙いがある。(半沢尚久)
---end---
http://www.sankei.com/politics/news/170625/plt1706250003-n1.html

The Type 12 SSM.
 
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4th flight test of the first MHI assembled F-35.




15 ton class fighter engine making progress.
The core engine component of what is to be used in the future fighter engine was purchased by the MoD on June 28th. Testing will begin in July and its capabilities will be verified. To realize the future fighter engine, the prototype engine XF9-1 will be developed by June 2018 upon reflection of the core engine research results, and then its capabilities will be verified. During afterburner operation, the aim is to reach a maximum thrust of at least 15 tons.
xf9-1.jpg

http://www.mod.go.jp/atla/img/kousouken/news_20170628.pdf





F-15Js train with B-1Bs in the East China Sea on July 6th.
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[Tokyo, the 7th, Reuters] The JASDF said that its F-15s fighters and B-1Bs strategic bombers of the US Air Force conducted joint-training over the waters in the East China Sea at night time on July 6th. It was the first time JASDF aircraft and B-1Bs conducted joint-training at night. While it was said to be regular operations, it is seen to have an aim of adding pressure on North Korea.The B-1Bs heading to the South China Sea after the joint-training.

According to the JASDF, two F-15s from Naha Air Base (Okinawa Prefecture) and two B-1Bs that flew in from Anderson Air Base (US Guam) participated in the joint-training. It was training in flying in formation that was carried out.

While the JASDF has carried out joint-training with B-1Bs in June, according to the US PACAF, this was the first time joint-training was conducted at night. there is a comment on the PACAF homepage that says "Flying and training at night in a safe, effective manner is an important capability shared between the U.S. and Japan".

After the training, instead of returning to Anderson Air Base, the B-1Bs headed to the South China Sea. On the PACAF homepage, it indicated the importance of freedom of navigation which is recognized by international law. It is possible that it had an aim of checking China, who that argues that the South China Sea is their sea.

[東京 7日 ロイター] - 航空自衛隊は7日、空自のF15戦闘機と米空軍のB-1B戦略爆撃機が6日夜に東シナ海上空で共同訓練を行ったと発表した。空自機とB-1Bが夜間訓練を実施するのは初めて。常時作戦を行えることを示し、北朝鮮に圧力をかける狙いがあるとみられる。B-1Bは訓練後、南シナ海へ向かった。

空自によると、共同訓練には那覇基地(沖縄県)のF15と、アンダーセン基地(米領グアム)から飛来したB-1Bが2機ずつ参加。編隊を組んで飛行する訓練を行った。

空自は6月にもB-B1と訓練を実施したが、米太平洋空軍によると、夜間訓練は今回が初めて。太平洋空軍はホームページで「夜間に安全かつ効果的に飛行し、訓練をするのは、米国と日本が共有する重要な能力だ」とコメントしている。

訓練を終えたB-B1はアンダーセン基地に戻らず、南シナ海へ向かった。太平洋空軍はホームページで、国際法で認められた航行の自由の重要性を指摘。南シナ海を自国の海と主張する中国をけん制する狙いがあった可能性がある。
---end---
https://jp.reuters.com/article/jp-self-defense-force-us-idJPKBN19S0AM





US Marine Corp FA-18s training with JASDF F-4s at Hyakuri Air Base.
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Joint-training between Japan and the US began on July 7th at JASDF's Hyakuri Air Base (Hyakuri, Omitamashi City, Ibaraki Prefecture). Hyakuri Air Base's 7th Air Wing and US Iwakuni Air Station's (Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture) Marine Aircraft Group 12 will jointly carry out an exercise in aerial combat. JASDF F-4 fighters and US FA-18 attack fighters will participate. ABout 140 personnel will be participating from the US.

On the 7th, past noon, the FA-18s that will be used in the exercise arrived at Hyakuri Air Base. Each of the base's units held up their flags and welcomed the greeted the USMC pilots.

The transfer of training is to improve the interoperability between the US military and the Self-Defense Force but also to reduce noise and impact of the training that occurs in the areas at all US bases throughout Japan. Joint-training at Hyakuri Air Base started in September 2015, with this time being the 8th time. The training will occur in an air space offshore from Hyakuri and will be carried out until the 21st, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays.

航空自衛隊百里基地(茨城県小美玉市百里)で7日、日米共同訓練が始まった。百里基地の第7航空団と米軍岩国基地(山口県岩国市)の第12海兵航空群が共同で空中戦などの演習を行う。空自のF4戦闘機、米軍のFA18戦闘攻撃機が参加する。米軍側の参加人員は約140人。

 7日昼過ぎには、演習に使われるFA18が百里基地に到着し、同基地の各部隊が旗を掲げて、米海兵隊のパイロットらを出迎えた。

 訓練移転は、自衛隊と米軍の相互運用性(インターオペラビリティー)の向上をはじめ、日本各地の米軍基地周辺で行われる訓練による騒音などの影響を軽減するために実施されている。百里基地で共同訓練が行われるのは平成27年9月以来で今回で8回目。訓練は百里沖空域で、土日祝日を除く21日まで行われる。
---end---
http://www.sankei.com/politics/news/170708/plt1707080029-n1.html

f4hyakuri.jpg


f18hyakuri.jpg






Abe meet with NATO for talks during the G20.
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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday (6 July 2017) for talks on the Alliance’s cooperation with Japan and the security situation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Welcoming Prime Minister Abe to NATO headquarters, the Secretary General praised Japan’s contributions to stabilisation efforts in Afghanistan, as well as its help to counter piracy off the coast of Somalia. Mr. Stoltenberg also welcomed Japan’s contribution of staff officers to NATO, including to support work on the Women, Peace and Security agenda. He added that NATO and Japan can deepen cooperation on cyber defence and maritime issues.

The two leaders also discussed the North Korean threat. “North Korea must comply with its international obligations,” said the Secretary General. He stressed that Pyongyang’s ballistic and nuclear tests are a clear breach of UN Security Council Resolutions and “a threat to international peace and security.
---end---
http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_145796.htm




F-2s training with B-1Bs in the East China Sea on July 7th.
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Three days after North Korea demonstrated its ability to hit the US with long-range nuclear missiles, the US, South Korea, and Japan put on a display of air power expressly meant to frighten Kim Jong Un.

Flying 10 hours from Guam to the Korean peninsula, US B-1 Lancer bombers joined up with South Korean F-15s and dropped dud bombs at a range near the demilitarized border between North and South Korea. On the way back, Japanese F-2 fighters escorted the US heavy bombers.

"North Korea’s actions are a threat to our allies, partners and homeland," Gen. Terrence O’ Shaughnessy, Pacific Air Forces commander, said in a statement. "Let me be clear, if called upon we are trained, equipped and ready to unleash the full lethal capability of our allied air forces."

In the pictures below, see how the US and its allies train to respond to North Korea.
---end---
http://www.businessinsider.com/b-1-...r-a-nearly-full-moon-in-guam-before-takeoff-1
More pictures in the link above.
f2b1b.jpg







Exercise Malabar 2017 between the Japan, India, and the US has started.
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Frontline warships and submarines of India, the US and Japan on Thursday sailed out from Chennai harbour to participate in the sea phase of the Malabar joint naval exercise at an undisclosed location in the Bay of Bengal, Navy officials said.

Sixteen ships and more than 95 aircraft from the three countries are participating in the exercise. The sea phase would be held deep in the Bay of Bengal, the exact location of which has not been revealed.

The annual Malabar exercise comes amid reports of Chinese warships prowling in the Indian Ocean Region in the name of anti-piracy operations, and Beijing’s aggressive posturing in the South China Sea.

The sea phase will see the ships, aircraft and submarines being divided into two teams - red and blue, and a war-like situation will be emulated, navy officials said.

With two aircraft carriers - India’s INS Vikramaditya, and US’ USS Nimitz, and Japanese helicopter carrier JS Izumo participating, Aircraft Carrier operations and air defence are a key component of the exercise.

The main focus however remains anti-submarine warfare. Both India and US have a submarine each, as well as Maritime Patrol and Anti-Submarine Warfare Aircraft P8-I from India and P-8A Poseidon aircraft from the US, as well helicopters on board the JS Izumo which are called the core of Japan’s anti-submarine warfare.

Air defence, surface warfare, visit board search and seizure (VBSS), search and rescue, joint manoeuvres and tactical procedures are to be a part of the war game.

In addition, officials from the three countries will be flown onboard the ships at sea on July 15.

The exercise will also witness a separate interaction between the Indian Navy and US Navy Special Forces and Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams at the Indian Navy’s MARCOS training base INS Karna at Visakhapatnam.

The harbour phase of the exercise started on July 10, and prior to that, a series of meetings and interactions between Indian and visiting Naval officials were held.

China had last week expressed hope that the joint naval drill between India, Japan, and the US was not aimed at other countries.
---end---
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...s-sea-phase/story-a2EbhhvRef2eIgUMg5leCP.html
 
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Pictures from Malabar 2017.

malabar2017o3.jpg


malabar2017o2.jpg


malabar2017o1.jpg


malabar201712.jpg


malabar201711.jpg


malabar2017o4.jpg


malabar2017o5.jpg


malabar2017o8.jpg


malabar2017o6.jpg


malabar2017o7.jpg


malabar2017o9.jpg


malabar201710.jpg


Fairly clear view of JS Izumo from Chennai Port shortly before the start of the exercise at sea.





JS Kaga opens to the public.





Japanese government looking to put XASM-3 to enter production and service next year.
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The government finalized policy to introduce a new air anti-ship missile that is currently in development to the F-2 fighter of the JASDF.

The procurement cost of several 100 million yen will be added onto the fiscal year 2018 budget demand and mass production will be introduced. It will be the first domestically produced supersonic air anti-ship missile with the feature of being difficult to intercept. It has an aim to keep in check things like China's aggressive activities in the East China Sea.

Currently introduced domestic air anti-ship missiles include the "Type 80" and "Type 93" that are close the to the speed of sound. However the new missile will have a flight speed of about Mach 3, 3 times that of the Type 93, making it much faster. From the point of speed, this stands next to that of the latest missiles abroad.

In addition to the time until the target is hit being very short, it is difficult for an enemy warship to intercept the missile because it is able to fly very close to the surface of the ocean surface thus making it difficult for radar to grasp. It's said to have a longer range than the Type 93 (a few hundred kilometers).

政府は来年度から、開発中の新型空対艦ミサイルを航空自衛隊のF2戦闘機に導入する方針を固めた。

2018年度の概算要求に数億円の調達費を計上し、量産体制に入る。国産の空対艦ミサイルとしては初の超音速で、迎撃されにくいのが特長だ。東シナ海などで強引な活動が目立つ中国海軍をけん制する狙いがある。

 導入済みの国産の空対艦ミサイルには、音速に近い「80式」と「93式」があるが、新型は飛行速度が93式の約3倍のマッハ3程度と、飛躍的に速くなる。速度の面では、海外の同種の最新鋭ミサイルと肩を並べる。

 目標に命中するまでの時間が大幅に短くなるうえ、レーダーに捉えられにくい海面近くを低空飛行することもできるため、敵の艦船はミサイルを迎撃しにくい。射程も93式(百数十キロ・メートル)より長くなるという。
newmissile.jpg

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http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/20170716-OYT1T50101.html#
 
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http://www.deccanherald.com/content/627683/japan-deploys-missile-defence-over.html
Tokyo, Aug 12 2017, 10:34 IST
627683_thump.jpg


Units of PAC-3 missiles which are deployed at the compound of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Kochi garrison are seen in Konan, Kochi prefecture, Japan. Reuters Photo

Japan is deploying its Patriot missile defence system after North Korea threatened to fire ballistic missiles over the country towards the US Pacific territory of Guam, reports said today.

Regional tensions are mounting as Washington and Pyongyang ratchet up their war of words, with President Donald Trump warning Pyongyang would "truly regret" any hostile action against the US.

The defence ministry started deploying the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) system in Shimane, Hiroshima and Kochi in western Japan, which Pyongyang warned could be along its missiles' flight path, public broadcaster NHK said.

It was also to deploy the anti-missile system in neighbouring Ehime, NHK said.


Television footage showed military vehicles carrying launchers and other equipment for the surface-to-air system entering a Japanese base in Kochi before dawn.

While immediate confirmation of the reports was not available, Japan has in the past vowed to shoot down North Korean missiles or rockets that threaten to hit its territory.

The government hopes to complete deployment of the system in western Japan by Saturday morning, Kyodo News said, quoting defence ministry officials.

Yoshihide Suga, Japan's chief government spokesman, said earlier this week that Tokyo "can never tolerate" provocations from North Korea and the country's military, will "take necessary measures."

In 2009, a North Korean rocket passed over Japanese territory without incident or any attempt to shoot it down.

At the time North Korea said it was launching a telecommunications satellite, but Washington, Seoul and Tokyo believed Pyongyang was testing an intercontinental ballistic missile
 
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