Naval News – According to Japanese defense officials, the Ministry of Defense is planning to establish a new missile range in the island of Minamitorishima for the Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

CIMSEC – The Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) possesses a modern and highly capable fleet, including light carriers, large AEGIS destroyers, and advanced conventional submarines which are renowned for their size and stealth. While individual Japanese naval vessels and their crews are certainly world class, Japan’s unique approach to naval industrial base strategy is often underappreciated, especially its submarine industrial base. This approach relies on three deliberate policy pillars.

USNI News – In its annual defense white paper released on Friday, Japan’s Ministry of Defense warned that the possibility of a situation similar to Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine occurring in the Indo-Pacific. Japan also again singling out China, North Korea and Russia as threats to Japan and the region.

USNI News – The Japan Self Defense Force has stationed a mobile radar system on Kita Daito Island in the Philippine Sea to expand Japan’s capabilities in the area. 

The Guardian – Yonaguni is a tourist hotspot – but its location just 100km from Taiwan means residents must wrestle with the creeping militarisation of their home.

USNI News – The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will dispatch both its Izumo-class big decks on their largest deployment to date.

Naval News – The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has announced that it has completed the first of a two-stage modification for its helicopter carrier JS Kaga to operate the Lockheed Martin F-35B fighter aircraft.

USNI News – The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force last week formally activated the 3rd Regiment of its Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, a key element of Japan’s plan to defend its southwest region and the outlying islands there. Last month Japan also stood up a JGSDF electronic warfare unit on Yonaguni Island and a surface-to surface-missile unit on Okinawa – the first time this type of unit has deployed on Okinawa.

Naval News – Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will start delivering the Mk 41 vertical launching system for a planned fleet of 12 Mogami-class multirole frigate for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in fiscal year 2024.

Naval News – The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has commissioned the third of its Taigei-class diesel-electric attack submarines, which feature better underwater endurance than its older boats.

Wavell Room – Japan has a naval deployment in the Indian Ocean. This is a milestone for deeper Naval cooperation.

USNI News – For almost two years, Chief of the Maritime Staff Adm. Ryo Sakai has led the JMSDF, as the Japanese government pursues a historic increase to defense spending, coinciding with ongoing aggression from China and Russia in the East China Sea. Sakai sat down with USNI News for a wide-ranging interview at his office in Tokyo this summer to discuss topics ranging from collaborating with the U.S. sea services to how the Japan Self-Defense Force is preparing to integrate the fighter-capable destroyers into its fleet.

Naval News – The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has begun sea trials of its helicopter carrier JS Kaga after undergoing major modifications of the vessel to operate the F-35B fighter jets,

Asia Times – Taigei class sub features vertical launch systems to counter possible Chinese preemptive attack and reenforce Ryukyu Island chain chokepoint

(Thanks to Alain)

Naval News – The Japanese Ministry of Defense on December 19 announced it has secured $2.59 billion for fiscal year 2024 from the Ministry of Finance to build two Aegis System Equipped Vessels, which are alternatives to Japan’s now-scrapped plan for a land-based Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense system.

Defense News – Japan, South Korea and the U.S. should mirror the AUKUS framework between Australia, the United Kingdom and the U.S. to create a multinational guided-missile destroyer construction program.

USNI News – One of Japan’s largest warships is heading to the East Coast next year to conduct a series of F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter trials next year

Naval News – Japan will acquire a total of 12 new FFMs in five years from 2024 to 2028 at a very high pace, which reflects the increasingly severe security environment surrounding Japan.

Naval News – Japan’s Ministry of Defense has announced the future equipment on which it will invest in research and development work over the next few years. The information came out in the recently published defense budget request. This article introduces some of them, especially those related to the naval domain.

Naval News – As the first batch of Japanese F-35Bs should arrive in country next year, Japan is also planning on setting up new key units and facilities in preparation for their arrival and to support its future carrier operations.

Naval News – On September 5, 2023, a V-22, the most advanced transport aircraft of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force landed for the first time on the helicopter destroyer JS Ise of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

War Zone – Japan moves away from procuring dedicated missile defense ships, opting for a multi-role, cruiser-like design that focuses on that mission.

Naval News – The Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD) on August 31 requested $52.9 billion (7.7 trillion yen) for fiscal year 2024, its largest ever defense budget request. Plans include the construction of two ASEVs and two new FFMs.

Naval News – Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced the selection of two contractors for the design and production of a new FFM variant to be delivered to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

1945 – Japan’s Ministry of Defense uses annual white papers to survey the country’s strategic surroundings and explain how it means to manage them. Its latest such survey shows Tokyo upping its game vis-à-vis China in a major way.