Latest news with #DaisukeYajima
Asahi Shimbun
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Japan to deploy long-range anti-ship missiles in Kumamoto
A transporter and launch vehicle for the enhanced Type 12 anti-ship missile is seen at the Higashi-Fuji training area, Shizuoka Prefecture, on June 8. (Asahi Shimbun file photo) The Defense Ministry is finalizing a plan to deploy long‑range anti-ship missiles at a site in Kumamoto Prefecture as a deterrence to China, several government sources said. The domestically produced Type 12 missiles will be installed at the Ground Self-Defense Force's Camp Kengun in Kumamoto Prefecture during this fiscal year, at a time of stepped-up Chinese military maneuvers around the Nansei islands, the sources said. Japan's fiscal year runs through March 31. The government plans to operate the upgraded version of the Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles as a standoff capability, operating outside the enemy's range. The enhanced Type 12 missile has a range of 1,000 kilometers, greater than its predecessor. It can reach China's coastline. Government sources said the missile will be deployed to GSDF Camp Yufuin in the future, although the date has not been decided. It could come next fiscal year or later. Deployment to the GSDF's Vice Camp Katsuren in Okinawa Prefecture is also under consideration. Mass production of the upgraded Type 12 missile began in fiscal 2023. The weapon was test-fired last year on Niijima island south of Tokyo. The government named a standoff missile capability in its three revised security-related documents in 2022. However, the possession of these missiles has raised concerns from some quarters. One concern is that it increases the likelihood of the bases being targeted during hostilities. Another concern is that possessing standoff missiles is in conflict with Japan's Constitution, which limits the Self-Defense Forces to protecting the country. (This story was written by Mizuki Sato and Daisuke Yajima.)
Asahi Shimbun
28-06-2025
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
Key MSDF patrol aircraft not up to task as corrosion ‘eating' engines
Engine malfunctions are plaguing the fleet of patrol aircraft essential to Maritime Self-Defense Force tracking of Chinese submarines and suspect ships in Japanese waters, according to the Board of Audit. The aircraft fly over the ocean at low altitudes for hours on end, making them prone to engine corrosion. The aircraft are a mainstay in Japanese efforts to monitor China's growing maritime assertiveness. The board did not divulge how many aircraft were affected in keeping with Defense Ministry protocols on security issues. The P1, the nation's first domestically made aircraft, was initially viewed as holding huge potential. It was considered to have no peer in submarine detection and tracking technology and there was talk of exporting the aircraft. But that never got off the ground. The Board of Audit study covered the 35 P1 aircraft deployed at MSDF bases across Japan as of September 2024. Primarily manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., the first P1 was deployed in 2013. It was the successor aircraft to the P3C, made by U.S. manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corp. The Board of Audit study said development, purchase and repair costs for the P1 through fiscal 2023 came to 1.776 trillion yen ($12.3 billion). The Defense Ministry's Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency plans to eventually deploy a total of 61 P1 aircraft at a cost of 4.090 trillion yen. The agency knew early on about the engine corrosion issue, but IHI Corp., which oversaw development, said the malfunctions were coincidental. So, nothing was done to rectify the problem. Within the MSDF, flying the P1 is considered the 'mission of missions' in that it comes with a huge array of detection equipment, making the plane a joy to operate. Increased sightings of Chinese submarines and other vessels in waters around Japan resulted in many more P1 missions. The burden of operating the aircraft around the clock on a rotational basis was never envisaged in the development stage, according to a highly placed MSDF officer. All sorts of issues emerged early on. The technology used in the U.S.-made P3C was off-limits, so Japanese engineers had to basically develop the aircraft technology from scratch. And this was at a time when the defense budget was not nearly as massive as it is today, meaning not all aspects of development could be adequately dealt with. The 'stovepipe' structure that separated ministry bureaucrats from SDF uniformed officers led to a failure in sharing information during the development stage, according to a high-ranking Defense Ministry official. The Board of Audit also pointed out that issues with the onboard electronic equipment and weapons were another reason some of the aircraft were grounded. Hopes of exporting the P1 aircraft were dashed after one of a pair dispatched to the Paris Air Show in 2017 developed problems and could not take part. (This article was written by Wataru Netsu and Daisuke Yajima.)
Asahi Shimbun
09-06-2025
- Asahi Shimbun
GSDF showcases launch vehicle for long-range Type 12 missile
The launch vehicle for the enhanced Type 12 surface-to-ship missile is showcased at the Higashi-Fuji training area in Shizuoka Prefecture on June 8. (Daisuke Yajima) The Ground Self-Defense Force for the first time showcased its long-range missile launcher vehicle designed to hit enemy ships and bases under Japan's 'counterstrike' capability. The vehicle, which launches the upgraded Type 12 surface-to-ship missile (12SSM), was displayed on June 8 during the Fuji Firepower Exercise at the Higashi-Fuji training area in Shizuoka Prefecture, the largest live-fire drill of the GSDF. The upgraded 12SSM has a range of 1,000 kilometers, longer than its predecessor, and has stealth capability, making it difficult for enemies to detect. It will serve as a standoff missile that can strike warships and bases from outside the enemy's range. During the drill, the vehicle demonstrated actual combat movements, such as pointing its four launchers on the cargo bed toward the sky. The vehicle had its first missile test-firing on Niijima island south of Tokyo last year. Mass production of the launch vehicle started in fiscal 2023, with China's increasing military activities in mind. Starting this fiscal year, the launch vehicles are expected to be deployed to seven surface-to-ship missile regiments from Hokkaido to Okinawa Prefecture. About 870 million yen ($6 million) has been allocated for ammunition alone in the Fuji Firepower Exercise. To address chronic personnel shortages, the Self-Defense Forces invited about 3,800 junior high and high school students and their parents to the drill, which was also streamed online in real-time.
