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Yomiuri Shimbun
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Deployment of Osprey Aircraft: Govt Must Make Every Effort to Dispel Residents' Concerns
Even if effective defense equipment is procured, it will be meaningless if the understanding of the local communities where it will be deployed cannot be obtained. The government must do its utmost to dispel the concerns of residents. The Ground Self-Defense Force has opened Camp Saga next to Saga Airport. It plans to relocate 17 Osprey transport aircraft, which have been temporarily deployed at Camp Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture, to Camp Saga by mid-August. To strengthen the defense system for the Nansei Islands, the government deployed the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, which is tasked with recapturing remote islands, to Camp Ainoura in Nagasaki Prefecture in 2018. The plan was to deploy Ospreys to Camp Saga, which is close to Camp Ainoura, and use them to transport Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade personnel, but the understanding of the Saga Prefecture side could not be obtained. Therefore, the Ospreys were sent to Camp Kisarazu as a temporary measure in 2020, and the central government has continued to hold discussions with the Saga prefectural government and other entities. With the opening of Camp Saga, it can be said that a system has finally been put in place to smoothly implement the operations to retake remote islands. The U.S.-made Osprey aircraft can fly at higher speeds and has a longer range than conventional helicopters. The aircraft may be used not only for contingency operations, but also for rescue operations in times of disasters. It is hoped that the GSDF will continue training and prepare for emergency situations. However, there are still many people in Saga Prefecture who have concerns about the deployment of the Osprey aircraft, as accidents involving similar models have continued both in Japan and overseas. In 2023, an Osprey belonging to the U.S. military crashed off the coast of Yakushima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, killing eight personnel. The U.S. military attributed the accident to a gearbox failure, among other reasons, but how the problem occurred is still unknown. In the first place, an Osprey has the functions of both a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft. Both the Japanese and U.S. governments must thoroughly strengthen safety measures to ensure that there are no structural mechanical problems with the aircraft. With the worsening security environment, more people have recently come to appreciate the activities of the Self-Defense Forces. However, it is unacceptable that the Defense Ministry and the SDF are poorly handling the issue of the flight operations of fighter aircraft. The Air Self-Defense Force plans to deploy eight F-35Bs, the most advanced U.S.-made stealth fighter aircraft, to Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki Prefecture. The ASDF intends to increase the number of F-35Bs to 42 in the future. The aircraft are characterized by their ability to land vertically and are envisioned for use on vessels, such as the Kaga destroyer, which is currently undergoing repairs to fix its decks. The ASDF initially told residents near Nyutabaru Air Base that, in principle, the aircraft would not perform vertical landings. However, in February this year, it changed its explanation to say the aircraft would do so about 100 times a month. It said that as vertical landings take time, the noise would be heard for some time. In response to opposition from the residents, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani apologized and said new measures would be taken. The defense minister himself should visit the area and try to explain the situation. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 11, 2025)
Miami Herald
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
US allies plan to flex aircraft carrier muscles near China
The United Kingdom and Japan-both major allies of the United States-are reportedly set to conduct joint naval operations with aircraft carriers in a show of force to China. The British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and its strike group are scheduled to visit Japan from August to September, Tokyo's defense ministry confirmed to Newsweek, adding that both sides are currently coordinating joint training exercises. Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment via email. The Prince of Wales began an eight-month mission, Operation Highmast, in April, leading a fleet of warships and carrying up to two dozen F-35B stealth fighter jets for exercises and operations across the Mediterranean, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Japan and Australia. In response to China's growing naval threat, Japan is converting two Izumo-class helicopter carriers-JS Izumo and JS Kaga-into aircraft carriers. It has also ordered up to 42 F-35B jets-capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings-to operate from the two warships. The reported joint aircraft carrier operations between the U.K. and Japan follow China's unprecedented dual aircraft carrier deployment in the broader western Pacific in June. Newspaper The Japan Times reported on Wednesday that British F-35B jets deployed aboard the Prince of Wales could conduct flight operations from the Kaga as part of joint operations between the Royal Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. If confirmed, this would mark the second time the Kaga has conducted flight operations with F-35B jets since last November, when it carried out flight tests off the coast of California. According to the report, the British aircraft carrier is expected to dock at Yokosuka naval base and in Tokyo during its time in Japan. Yokosuka is also home to the U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which is currently operating in the South China Sea. Following its visit to Singapore in late June, the Prince of Wales was underway in the Java Sea the Royal Navy disclosed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday. The aircraft carrier is en route to northern Australia for Exercise Talisman Sabre. It remains unclear whether the Prince of Wales will conduct any flight operations with the U.S. amphibious assault ship USS America, which is also capable of operating F-35B jets. As of Friday, the America was underway in the Coral Sea, off Australia's northeast coast. The Royal Navy said in a press release on June 23: 'In each port, the ships [of the U.K. Carrier Strike Group] will promote the Strike Groups overarching mission-demonstrating the U.K.'s commitment to the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region alongside allies and partners, including celebrating 60 years of Anglo-Singaporean relations, making us secure at home and strong abroad.' Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Vice Admiral Yoshihiro Goka, commander of the Fleet Escort Force, said in a press release in November 2024: 'We believe that the acquisition of F-35B operational capability for the JS Izumo class destroyers will [enhance] Japanese defense capability and interoperability between Japan and the U.S. and will strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the countries as well as ultimately contribute to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.' The deployment of the Prince of Wales to the western Pacific comes as the U.S. has only one aircraft carrier stationed in the region amid efforts to counter China's military presence. Related Articles Photos Show US Navy's Double Aircraft Carrier Operations in AtlanticUS and China's Aircraft Carriers Show Force in Contested WatersMap Shows Major US Naval Presence in West Pacific Amid China RivalryChina Reveals Details of Dual Aircraft Carrier Operations in West Pacific 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Japan Times
17-02-2025
- Japan Times
Japan's SDF destroyers are being converted into aircraft carriers
The Maritime Self-Defense Force is upgrading its Izumo and Kaga destroyers into de facto aircraft carriers, equipping them to operate the F-35B stealth fighter, which features short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities. Performance tests conducted in October and November last year, with cooperation from the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, confirmed that the upgraded Kaga can accommodate the F-35B without issue. The Izumo is scheduled to undergo its second upgrade this year, while the Air Self-Defense Force will begin F-35B training. Actual deployment is not expected to start in the near future, however.
Japan Times
14-02-2025
- General
- Japan Times
Japan, U.S., France hold joint naval exercise in Pacific
The Maritime Self-Defense Force said Thursday that it has begun the Pacific Steller joint exercise with the U.S. and French navies in the Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines. This is the first drill involving MSDF vessels along with U.S. and French aircraft carriers. From Japan, the MSDF destroyer Kaga, which is becoming a de facto aircraft carrier, and others joined the exercise. It is unusual for Japan to conduct a drill with aircraft carriers of other countries in the sea area. The joint drill, which will last until Tuesday, is apparently aimed at keeping China in check. Participating in the drill were patrol aircraft and a total of 11 vessels including the U.S. Navy's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and the French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier. It is the first time since the 1960s that a French aircraft carrier has been deployed to the Pacific. On Thursday, two vessels belonging to the aircraft carrier strike group centered on the Charles de Gaulle called at the U.S. naval facility White Beach in Uruma, Okinawa Prefecture. The port call was part of efforts to strengthen cooperation with allies and friendly countries in the Indo-Pacific region, in light of China's increasing assertiveness. The joint exercise included antisubmarine and antiaircraft combat training, MSDF officials said. The MSDF plans to upgrade the Kaga into an aircraft carrier by operating it with F-35B fighter jets. Last year, the destroyer underwent a major renovation of its bow and conducted landing tests with U.S. military aircraft.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A flurry of international naval drills around the Philippines prompts complaints from Beijing
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — A flurry of naval drills surrounding the Philippines involving the United States and its partners has prompted complaints from Beijing, which claims the entire South China Sea and accuses Manila of colluding with others to destabilize the region. The U.S. 7th Fleet based in Japan said forces from Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the U.S. conducted a 'multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity' within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone on Wednesday. Such drills 'strengthen the interoperability of our defense/armed forces doctrines, tactics, techniques, and procedures," the fleet said in a news release. The maneuvers were taking place within the Philippines' zone, but the fleet gave no details on the exact location. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. More exercises involving the U.S., Japan and France were planned for later this week in the Philippines Sea, which China does not claim. That exercise 'is designed to advance coordination and cooperation between French, Japanese and U.S. maritime forces while simultaneously demonstrating capabilities in multi-domain operations,' the fleet said. The U.S. aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, French carrier Charles De Gaulle and Japan's Izumo-class multi-functional destroyer Kaga will take part in the drill starting Saturday, along with their escorts and air wings, the fleet said. France's participation is especially significant because of the distance from its home base, 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles) away in Toulouse, commander of the Carrier Strike Group Rear Adm. Jacques Mallard was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, Tian Junli, spokesperson for China's Southern Theater Command, accused the Philippines of 'colluding with outside countries to organize 'so-called joint patrols', " which he said 'destabilize the region," Chinese state media said on Thursday. Tian said the Philippines actions were 'an attempt to endorse its 'illegal claims' in the South China Sea and 'undermine China's maritime rights and interests." He specifically pointed to U.S.-Philippines joint patrols on Tuesday and said China had carried out its own patrols in the region on Wednesday. China is one of six regional powers that claims the strategic South China Sea in part or in whole, ignoring a ruling by a United Nations-backed court that tossed out most of its claims and building human-made islands equipped with airstrips and other infrastructure of military use. China's coast guard and maritime militia frequently clash with ships from fellow claimants Vietnam and the Philippines. Though it claims not to disrupt shipping or overflights in the sea, through which an estimated $5 trillion in global trade transits each year, China is adamantly opposed to foreign military shipping in the area. The waterway is also believed to be sitting atop vast undersea deposits of oil and gas and while China says it wants to come to a negotiated agreement about the use of the sea, such efforts have made little progress. China says the U.S. and other countries that don't border on the sea should have no say in affairs concerning it, although the U.S. — which takes no formal stand on sovereignty issues involving the sea — has maintained bases and alliances in the region long before China made its formal claim to sovereignty using the so-called 'eight dash line.' Beijing is especially angered over U.S. 'freedom of navigation operations' in which Navy ships sail close to Chinese-held maritime features to show Washington does not recognize China's sovereignty claims.
