(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
Q: I would like to ask about the video of the JS “Izumo” taken by a drone. What do you think were the factors which lead to this kind of incident occurring despite the fact that the flying of drones in the vicinity of Self-Defense Forces facilities is restricted under the Drone Act and there were security measures in place? Furthermore, I think that as technologies become more sophisticated, there is a possibility that the number of unmanned aircraft which cannot be sensed easily using radar, etc. will increase going forward. Please tell us your thoughts on what action to take regarding this.
A: This is a question about the drone video of the JS “Izumo”. Firstly, regarding the factors you mentioned, we have analyzed the video you indicated and as a result have arrived at the conclusion that it is highly likely that it was actually filmed recently. The Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) take the results of this analysis extremely seriously because harm caused by drones to defense-related facilities could seriously impede the defense of Japan. Based on that, it is difficult for me to give an answer about the factors you indicated because they relate to the details of the security of military bases, but recently drones have become more widespread and unmanned aircraft-related technologies are also developing rapidly, so there is a possibility that unmanned aircraft which are more difficult to detect will emerge. Ceaseless efforts to improve military base security capabilities, etc. have become important in order to be able to respond appropriately to these trends. Regarding the action to be taken, the MOD/SDF intend to expend all possible means to ensure greater military base security through initiatives to take strict, prompt, and thorough action within the scope of laws and regulations, namely the early introduction of higher-capacity equipment to counteract drones and the forced landing of illegal drones using electronic jamming.
(Abridged)
Q: It is expected that the Self-Defense Forces Act Amendment Bill, etc. will be approved and become law at the plenary sessions of the House of Councillors later today. This means that the establishment of the Permanent Joint Headquarters will be officially decided. Can you please briefly explain the significance of the Command once again given the timing of its establishment?
A: The significance of newly organizing the Permanent Joint Headquarters is that at a time when the security environment surrounding Japan is rapidly becoming more severe, it is essential to organically combine the space, cyber, and electromagnetic domains with land, maritime and air domains while carrying out agile and sustained activities through a joint operational posture, to ensure that we can implement our activities seamlessly in all stages from peacetime to contingencies. From this perspective, the National Defense Strategy and Defense Buildup Program formulated in December 2022 stated that in order to reinforce effectiveness of joint operational posture, Japan will establish a Permanent Joint Headquarters which can unify command of GSDF, MSDF, and ASDF, and as a result of a series of discussions inside the MOD, it was decided in FY2024 to newly establish a Permanent Joint Headquarters in Ichigaya during the current fiscal year. We believe that due to the new establishment of the Permanent Joint Headquarters, with regards to the operation of the SDF, unified command of SDF units will be possible during peacetime, it will be possible to more quickly build a flexible defense posture which responds to the status of and changes in the situation, and in addition we will be able to unify the sharing of information with the commands of joint operations, allies and like-minded countries and operational cooperation, and as a result the effectiveness of the joint operational posture will be enhanced. Through the joint operational architecture further strengthened in this way, we will promote fundamental reinforcement of Japan’s defense capabilities, including the paradigm of the architecture of the SDF, so that we can defend to the end the lives of Japanese nationals and their livelihood in any situation.