thejapantimes, 8 days ago to Japan

Japan Defense Minister Minoru Kihara has warned of the growing possibility of simultaneous crises erupting in the Indo-Pacific and beyond — a threat not entirely unimaginable amid Chinese moves near Taiwan and the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/06/01/japan/politics/japan-defense-minister-kihara-shangri-la-speech/ #japan #politics #minorukihara #china #taiwan #northkorea #defense #defenseministry

thejapantimes, 5 days ago to Japan

Plans for the American military in Japan to get a command upgrade are gaining steam following comments by the U.S. defense chief that basing a four-star commander in the country is something the Pentagon is “looking at very closely.” https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/06/04/japan/us-forces-japan-command-upgrade/ #japan #sdf #usmilitary #usbases #joebiden #fumiokishida #defense #defenseministry #china #taiwan #pla #usjapanrelations

thejapantimes, 12 days ago to worldwithoutus

North Korea’s fiery satellite launch failure Monday is being viewed as just a temporary setback in the country’s space ambitions, with more attempts at orbit expected. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/05/28/asia-pacific/politics/north-korea-satellite-launch-failure-analysis/ #asiapacific #politics #northkorea #southkorea #defense #defenseministry #missiles #usmilitary #sdf #nuclearweapons

thejapantimes, 15 days ago to Japan

With Japan's neighbors adding hypersonic weapons and AI-equipped drones to their arsenals, what should the SDF do to keep the country safe? https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/05/26/japan/japan-air-defense-upgrade/ #japan #sdf #defense #defenseministry #china #northkorea #russia #usmilitary #missiles

thejapantimes, 18 days ago to Japan

North Korea continues to focus on achieving qualitative improvements in its nuclear and missile capabilities, according to an early draft of Japan's 2024 defense white paper. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/05/23/japan/politics/japan-defense-paper-north-korea-nukes/ #japan #politics #defenseministry #defense #northkoreajapanrelations #nuclearweapons #missiles

thejapantimes, 19 days ago to Japan

Japan has sent a defense official to the U.S. Navy to leverage on its experience for the development of a railgun, which uses electromagnetic force to fire bullets at high speeds, government sources have revealed. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/05/21/japan/japan-defense-railgun-development/ #japan #defenseministry #defense #usnavy #usmilitary

thejapantimes, 19 days ago to Japan

Tokyo and Seoul will be looking to deal revive bilateral defense ties by reaching a deal on measures to prevent a reoccurrence of a 2018 incident in which a South Korean warship directed its fire control radar at an MSDF patrol plane. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/05/21/japan/japan-south-korea-radar-incident-prevention/ #japan #southkoreajapanrelations #defenseministry #sdf #minorukihara

thejapantimes, 25 days ago to Japan

Japan and the United States are planning to develop interceptors to shoot down hypersonic missiles by the 2030s under a contract signed by the two countries on Wednesday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/05/16/japan/us-japan-missile-interceptor-devlopment/ #japan #usjapanrelations #missiles #defense #defenseministry

thejapantimes, 26 days ago to Japan

Discussions are ongoing to create a more responsive U.S.-Japan command structure, addressing issues such as command authority, integration and rapid decision-making capabilities. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2024/05/14/japan/japan-defense-modernization/ #commentary #japan #usjapanrelations #defense #usmilitary #indopacific #southkorea #sdf #defenseministry #us

thejapantimes, 27 days ago to Japan

The Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Kure District Headquarters in Hiroshima Prefecture is expanding its activities ahead of the 70th anniversary of its founding, on July 1. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/05/13/japan/politics/japan-msdf-kure-base/ #japan #politics #sdf #msdf #aircraftcarriers #hiroshima #kurenavalbase #kaga #izumo #defense #defenseministry

thejapantimes, 28 days ago to Japan

Japan's military needs more women. But it's still failing on harassment. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/05/13/japan/japan-sdf-sexual-harassment-training/ #japan #sdf #sexualharassment #rinagonoi #powerharassment #defenseministry

thejapantimes, 1 month ago to Japan

Footage of a Japanese naval destroyer that circulated on Chinese social media is likely genuine, despite initial speculation the video may have been generated by artificial intelligence. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/05/10/japan/destroyer-drone-video-footage/ #japan #defenseministry #drones #selfdefenseforces #china #socialmedia #ai #tech

thejapantimes, 1 month ago to worldnews

The success of ballistic missile defenses will encourage militaries globally to invest in the systems, experts say — and intensify arms races. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/05/04/world/politics/missile-defense-global-urgency/ #worldnews #politics #defense #missiles #china #ukraine #israel #sdf #defenseministry #southkorea #us

thejapantimes, 1 month ago to worldwithoutus

Defense chiefs from Japan, Australia, the Philippines and the U.S. have agreed to further expand military cooperation amid concerns over Beijing’s growing regional assertiveness. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/05/03/asia-pacific/politics/us-japan-australia-philippines-defense-chiefs/ #asiapacific #politics #usjapanrelations #philippinesjapanrelations #australiajapanrelations #usmilitary #defense #defenseministry #minorukihara #pla #china #southchinasea

thejapantimes, 1 month ago to Japan

The Defense Ministry stated Thursday that the crash of two Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopters off a remote Tokyo island last month is highly likely to have been caused by human factors. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/05/03/japan/msdf-choppers-crash-likely-caused-by-human-factors/ #japan #sdf #msdf #defenseministry

thejapantimes, 1 month ago to Japan

When Defense Minister Minoru Kihara travels to Hawaii for talks with his U.S., Australian and Philippine counterparts, there will be one thing on his mind: how to deepen ties to counter China. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/30/japan/politics/kihara-defense-chiefs-hawaii-preview/ #japan #politics #minorukihara #defenseministry #defense #china #australia #philippines #southchinasea #usmilitary #lloydaustin

thejapantimes, 1 month ago to Japan

Japan is edging closer toward a goal outlined in its 2022 National Security Strategy of bringing defense spending to 2% of gross domestic product, its defense minister said. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/29/japan/politics/japan-defense-spending-rises-to-06-of-gdp/ #japan #politics #defense #budgets #defenseministry

thejapantimes, 1 month ago to Japan

Japan's Defense Ministry has punished five senior members of the Maritime and Ground Self-Defense Forces for passing on secret information to unvetted personnel within their units. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/26/japan/politics/sdf-secret-info/ #japan #politics #defense #sdf #msdf #defenseministry #statesecretslaw

thejapantimes, 1 month ago to Japan

As the U.S. faces security threats across the globe, Japan has committed to stepping up as a trusted defense partner — but Tokyo's cyber and information security vulnerabilities remain a concern. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/26/japan/politics/japan-security-vulnerabilities/ #japan #politics #defense #cybersecurity #defenseministry #hacking

thejapantimes, 1 month ago to Japan

The MSDF has sent an ocean observation ship to trawl the seafloor for the remains of two helicopters that were thought to have collided over waters hundreds of kilometers south of Tokyo, and the U.S. military is also set to join the search effort. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/23/japan/msdf-helicopter-crash-search-us-military/ #japan #sdf #airaccidents #defense #defenseministry #minorukihara #usmilitary

thejapantimes, 1 month ago to Japan

As the search continues for seven missing crew members of two Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopters that crashed into waters hundreds of kilometers south of Tokyo, defense officials say there was no indication of aircraft issues. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/22/japan/msdf-helicopter-crash-search/ #japan #selfdefenseforces #defense #defenseministry #airaccidents #maritimeaccidents #minorukihara

thejapantimes, 1 month ago to Japan

The Japanese aircraft industry's hope to develop and produce a new jet trainer entirely in the country has faded following a summit between Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden earlier this month. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/22/japan/japan-made-jet-trainer/ #japan #sdf #defenseministry #fighterjets #ihi #kawasakiheavyindustries

thejapantimes, 1 month ago to Japan

Two Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopters appear to have crashed late Saturday during nighttime training off the Izu Islands in the Pacific Ocean, the Defense Ministry said, with seven crew members missing. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/21/japan/politics/izu-msdf-helicopter-crash/ #japan #politics #sdf #airaccidents #maritimeaccidents #defense #defenseministry #izu

thejapantimes, 1 month ago to Japan

Defense Minister Minoru Kihara is considering visiting Hawaii to meet his U.S. counterpart, Lloyd Austin, as early as the beginning of May. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/18/japan/japan-us-defense-ministers-to-meet-in-hawaii/ #japan #defenseministry #minorukihara #lloydaustin #usjapanrelations #sdf #hawaii

thejapantimes, 1 month ago to Japan

The top U.S. military officer for the Indo-Pacific region will travel to Tokyo next week, the Japanese Defense Ministry announced Thursday, where he is expected to discuss a planned revamp to the command and control framework for U.S. forces in Japan. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/18/japan/politics/indopacific-command-aquilino-japan/ #japan #politics #us #usjapanrelations #johnaquilino #usmilitary #china #taiwan #sdf #defense #defenseministry