ACTIVITIES
Orient Shield 2019
From August 26th to September 23rd, the JGSDF conducted the bilateral field training exercise Orient Shield 2019 in Japan with the U.S. Army.
The exercise was conducted at Camp Kengun and maneuver areas in Japan including the Oyanohara Maneuver Area to improve the joint response capabilities of the JGSDF and the U.S. Army.
The JGSDF’s 16 Infantry Regiment of 4th Division, 2nd Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade, and Western Army Artillery Unit participated in this exercise alongside the U.S. Army’s 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the 17th Field Artillery Brigade, and others.
Japan-Australia Bilateral Training “Bushido Guardian 2019”
From September 11th to October 8th, the JASDF conducted bilateral training with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The training was conducted at Chitose Air Base and Misawa Air Base to realize the Joint Statement of the Eighth Japan-Australia Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations (“2+2”) made in October 2018. This was the first bilateral training conducted by the JASDF and the RAAF in Japan. The training was mainly conducted by the JASDF’s Northern Air Defense Force and the RAAF’s No. 77 Squadron of No. 81 Wing. The aircraft deployed in the training included F-15 fighters and F-2 fighters from the JASDF and F/A-18 A/B fighters, a KC-30 aerial tanker, and a C-17 transport aircraft from the RAAF.
In addition, Minister of Defense Kono inspected the training and encouraged the JASDF and the RAAF airmen on September 25th.
Through the training, the JASDF and the RAAF improved their capabilities and promoted mutual understanding and defense cooperation between the two countries.
Malabar 2019
From September 26th to October 4th, the JMSDF took part in Japan-U.S.-India trilateral exercise Malabar 2019 conducted in the waters from off Sasebo to the south of Japan’s Kanto region.
The JMSDF enhanced its tactical skills and promoted mutual understanding and trust with the U.S. Navy and Indian Navy.
From the JMSDF, three destroyers, JS Samidare, JS Chokai, and JS Kaga, and a replenishment oiler JS Oumi as well as fixed-wing patrol aircraft P-1 participated in anti-submarine, anti-ship, and anti-aircraft training.
MOD FY2020 Budget Request
The MOD released its overview of FY2020 budget request at the end of August.
The FY2020 budget request marks the second year of the National Defense Program Guidelines and the Mid-Term Defense Program, which were approved by the Cabinet at the end of 2018. It aims to build a truly effective defense capability, “Multi-Domain Defense Force” by steadily strengthening Japan’s defense force while further streamlining and rationalizing them.
The basic concept behind the current budget request is to acquire and strengthen capabilities in new domains such as space, cyberspace, and electromagnetic spectrum in order to realize cross-domain operations, and to reinforce capabilities in traditional domains to cope with various situations in close combination with new domains. In addition, it aims to strengthen the sustainability and resilience of defense capability including logistics support. It also prioritizes strengthening human resource base and technology base and further strengthening security cooperation in the Japan-U.S. Alliance and with other countries.
