Today Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

1 today

1.1 capabilities , recent developments
1.2 international activities

1.2.1 mission in indian ocean
1.2.2 mission in somalia
1.2.3 military exercises , exchanges

today
capabilities , recent developments

october 20, 2016, meeting between adm tomohisa takei, adm john m. richardson , adm sir philip jones in united states department of defense.



a rim-161 standard missile 3 launched jds kongō, aegis destroyer.

the jmsdf has official strength of 50,000 personnel, presently numbers around 50,800 active personnel. result of continuing effective defense investment due japan s economic development , end cold war, jmsdf world s fifth largest naval power. japan has seventh largest exclusive economic zone (eez) in world, , jmsdf responsible protecting large area. island nation, dependent on maritime trade majority of resources, including food , raw materials, maritime operations important aspect of japanese defense policy.

the jmsdf known in particular anti-submarine warfare , minesweeping capabilities. defense planners believe effective approach combating hostile submarines entails mobilizing available weapons, including surface combatants, submarines, patrol planes, , helicopters. historically japan air self-defense force (jasdf) has been relied on provide air cover @ sea, role subordinate jasdf s primary mission of air defense of home islands. extended patrols on sea lanes beyond jasdf s current capabilities.

the japanese fleet s capacity provide ship-based antiaircraft warfare protection limited absence of aircraft carriers, though destroyers , frigates equipped aegis combat system provide formidable capability in antiaircraft , antimissile warfare. these capabilities force multipliers, allowing force projection of japan s sizable destroyer , frigate force far home waters, , acquiring them contentious considering japan s passive defense policy.

js izumo, izumo-class helicopter destroyer

in august 2003, new helicopter carrier class ordered, hyūga-class helicopter destroyer. size , features of ship, including full-length flight deck, result in being classified either amphibious assault ship or helicopter carrier lloyd s register — similar united kingdom s hms ocean. has been argued whether aircraft carrier of kind technically prohibited article 9 of japanese constitution, since aircraft carriers considered offensive weapons. in japanese diet budget session in april 1988, chief of japanese defense agency, tsutomu kawara, said, self-defense forces not allowed possess icbms (intercontinental ballistic missiles), strategic bombers, or attack aircraft carriers.

historically, through 1975 in u.s. navy, large-scale carriers had been classified attack aircraft carriers , smaller carriers anti-submarine aircraft carriers. since helicopter carriers have little built-in attack capability , fulfill roles such defensive anti-submarine warfare, japanese government continues argue prohibition not extend new helicopter carriers.

in november 2009, jmsdf announced plans larger helicopter carrier , izumo-class helicopter destroyer. first 1 of these ships laid down in 2012 , launched on 6 august 2013.

the submarine fleet of jmsdf consists of of technologically advanced diesel-electric submarines in world. due careful defense planning in submarines routinely retired service ahead of schedule , replaced more advanced models. in 2010 announced japanese submarine fleet increased in size first time in 36 years.

after meeting between japanese foreign minister , u.s. ambassador japan on 4 march 2014, japanese defense ministry , u.s. department of defense announced hold studies joint development of littoral vessel under bilateral mutual defense assistance agreement. vessel planned high-speed trimaran designed operations in shallow coastal waters capable of carrying helicopters, possibly lighter variant of american 3,000 tonne (3,300 short ton) littoral combat ship. study in response growth of chinese people s liberation army navy , budgetary issues u.s. military may affect ability operate in pacific. j-lcs used intervene during chinese ship incursions near senkaku islands , other contested areas in east china sea, , possibly counter similar chinese vessels type 056 corvette , type 022 missile boat. 1,000 tonnes (980 long tons; 1,100 short tons) j-lcs enlarged hull operate sh-60k anti-submarine helicopter or mch-101 airborne mine countermeasures (amcm) helicopter.

international activities

arabian sea on november 22, 2006 - japanese fast combat support ship jds mashu (left) conducts replenishment @ sea (ras) guided-missile cruiser uss anzio


mission in indian ocean

destroyers , combat support ships of japan maritime self-defense force dispatched indian ocean 2001 2008 participate in oef-mio (operation enduring freedom-maritime interdiction operation). mission prevent marine transportation of illegal weapons , ammunition, , drugs fund terrorist activity. since 2004, jmsdf has provided ships of foreign forces fuel ships , ship-based helicopters, fresh water.

this third time japanese military vessels had been dispatched overseas since world war ii, following deployments of mine-sweeping units during korean war , persian gulf war. law enabling mission expired on 2 november 2007, , operation temporarily canceled due veto of new bill authorizing mission opposition-controlled upper chamber of japanese diet.

in january 2010, defense minister ordered jmsdf return indian ocean, fulfilling government pledge end eight-year refueling mission. prime minister yukio hatoyama refused renew law authorizing mission, ignoring requests american government continuation.　both western alliance country typified royal australian navy , royal danish navy, doing friendship activities in indian ocean .

mission in somalia

in may 2010, japan announced intention build permanent naval base in djibouti, conduct operations protect merchant shipping somali pirates.

military exercises , exchanges

the jmsdf , u.s. navy carry out joint exercises , u.s. navy officials have claimed have closer daily relationship jmsdf other navy in world . jmsdf participates in rimpac, annual multi-national military exercise near hawaii has been hosted u.s. navy since 1980. jmsdf dispatched ship russian vladivostok harbor in july 1996 participate in russian navy s 300th anniversary naval review. vladimir vinogradov came ship tokyo harbor in june 1997. jmsdf has conducted joint naval exercises indian navy.

rimpac: japan maritime self-defense force participated in rimpac after 1980.
pacific shield (psi): japan maritime self-defense force has participated in pacific shield after 2004; , in 2007, japan maritime self-defense force hosted exercise.
pacific reach: japan maritime self-defense force has participated in bi-annual submarine rescue exercise since 2000. in 2002, japan maritime self-defense force hosted exercise.
navy navy talks: japan maritime self-defense force holds regular naval conferences counterparts of indonesia, malaysia, united kingdom, , united states of america.
aegis ballistic missile defense ftm: japan maritime self-defense force has participated in ftm after ftm-10. japan maritime self-defense force carried out jftm-1 in december 2007.




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