Cope North 21

From January 18 to February 28, the JASDF conducted exercises including a Japan-U.S.-Australia trilateral exercise in Cope North 21 based at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.

Various drills such as air defense combat and tactical attack training were conducted under realistic training environment to enhance the Japan-U.S. bilateral response capability and tactical skills of the JASDF through this exercise. This exercise also included Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief exercise which aimed to improve the interoperability among the participated countries.

During the exercise, the JASDF sent six F-15J/DJs, three F-2As, one E-767 from 2nd Air Wing (Chitose), 8th Air Wing (Tsuiki) of Air Defense Command, and one C-2 from 3rd Tactical Airlift Group (Miho) of Air Support Command, as well as Base Defense Development and Training Squadron (Hyakuri) and so on, which were totally 11 aircraft and approx. 250 personnel.

Although, this exercise was conducted under the circumstance of COVID-19, the JASDF took appropriate measures to prevent infection such as wearing masks, avoiding 3Cs, sanitizing hands, besides the reduction of the training scale comparing last year (21 aircraft and approx. 500 personnel joined last year) and the minimization of person to person contact during the enter/exit of country and exercise.

The MOD/JSDF will continue the activities including exercises to contribute to the peace and security of Indo-Pacific region.

Online Educational Program for Royal Cambodian Armed Forces

From February 1 to 5, the 7th Engineer Group, 4th Engineer Brigade, Middle Army, JGSDF, provided an online educational program for Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) road surveying instructors. This program is part of a phased MOD capacity building project aimed at successively enhancing the instruction skills of RCAF road surveyors to support their contribution to UN peacekeeping operations. This is the first capacity building program to be implemented online by the MOD during the COVID pandemic.

In 2012, JMOD commenced its provision of capacity building assistance to Cambodian Military Engineers in support of their contribution to UN PKO (Civil Engineering). In 2017, the MOD commenced phased ‘train-the trainer’ educational programs on road surveying techniques in order to develop a pool of RCAF instructors. A total of five candidates surveying instructor officers at the National Centre for Peacekeeping Forces, Mines and ERW Clearance (NPMEC) participated in this online iteration of the MOD’s phased project.

During this online iteration, the MOD bridged Kyoto and Phnom Penh using online conference systems. JGSDF instructors provided lectures, drawing practice and examinations on surveying techniques, etc. to develop participants’ instruction skills. We wish for the participants’ further success in performing PKO and training new RCAF road surveyors.

JS Suzunami started its duty in place of JS Murasame

On January 20, JS Suzunami, the 4th Deployment Surface Force for Information Gathering started operations replacing JS Murasame, the 3rd Force. JS Suzunami and its crews are gathering information to ensure the safety of Japan-related vessels, mainly in the high seas of the Gulf of Oman and the northern Arabian sea.

After departing from Ominato on December 20, 2020, JS Suzunami conducted PCR tests for all crews. Furthermore, in order to maintain health condition of the crews, JS Suzunami remained in the waters of near Japan for 14 days holding drills before advancing to the operational area.

On February 11, JS Murasame returned to Japan, and the returning ceremony was held at Yokosaka. Defense Minister Kishi attended the ceremony to commemorate the return of JS Murasame which engaged in the information gathering activities in the Middle East. After he was debriefed, Minister Kishi decorated the deployed force and its commander.

The MOD/SDF will continue this activity to ensure the safety of Japan-related vessels in the Middle East.