Latest news with #JMSDF
Japan Forward
20-05-2025
- General
- Japan Forward
JMSDF Strengthens Foothold in Nansei Islands as Taiwan Crisis Looms
Port calls by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) vessels at Ishigaki Port in Okinawa Prefecture have risen sharply in recent years. By April 2025, a range of ships — including training support vessels, escort ships, minesweepers, and mother ships for underwater disposal teams — had already made stops at the port. In 2024, the JMSDF's largest ship, the Izumo , anchored off the coast of Ishigaki Island. The United States Navy has likewise maintained a steady presence, dispatching vessels roughly once a year. With tensions over a potential Taiwan contingency on the rise, Ishigaki Port has effectively become a forward operating base for both Japanese and American naval forces. Their presence serves as a tangible demonstration of strengthened deterrence. While the Japanese government refrains from making overt declarations, it continues to quietly enhance the Self-Defense Forces' readiness. These efforts are aimed at strengthening deterrence in anticipation of a crisis in the Taiwan Strait. Since fiscal 2024, Ishigaki Port has been designated a Specified Use Port. This status creates a framework that facilitates smoother berthing and logistical operations for both the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and the Japan Coast Guard (JCG). Soon after the designation, in late August 2024, the Izumo sailed to waters near Okinawa following joint exercises with European naval vessels and anchored offshore from Ishigaki Island. The ship was opened for public viewing by members of the local defense association and selected citizens. A Japan Coast Guard patrol vessel (foreground) sails alongside a China Coast Guard ship. (Photo courtesy of the Japan Coast Guard) In February 2025, as the fiscal year drew to a close, the US Navy's amphibious transport dock USS San Diego made a port call at Ishigaki. That, too, was opened to the media. The year before, a US Aegis destroyer made a similar visit. Meanwhile, China has stepped up its military activity in the region. It has been staging large-scale exercises around Taiwan and Okinawa that simulate a maritime blockade of Taiwan. These drills involve a range of assets, including multiple warships, drones, and even aircraft carriers. Beijing has taken a particularly hostile stance toward Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, who assumed office in January 2024. Ishigaki City plans to launch a regular ferry route to Taiwan by September 2025. While Ishigaki Port already serves as the home base for the Japan Coast Guard's dedicated Senkaku patrol unit, it is set to play an even more critical role in safeguarding maritime routes to Taiwan. In the event of a Taiwan contingency, commercial navigation in the surrounding waters would likely face significant disruption. Rising concerns include the possibility of China deploying naval mines to enforce a blockade. The JMSDF minesweeper Kuroshima , which called at Ishigaki in May, is specifically tasked with mine-clearing operations. Another vessel, the mother ship for underwater disposal teams, departed the port on April 29 and serves as a mobile base for specialized underwater personnel. Both ships are based in Okinawa's main island and visited Ishigaki at roughly the same time in 2024. The presence of the JMSDF is becoming increasingly prominent alongside that of the Coast Guard. In an interview, Hiroaki Yonemori, Chairman of the Yaeyama Defense Association, spoke about ongoing efforts to attract more JMSDF vessels to the islands. Anticipating further increases in port calls, he stressed the need for robust wharf infrastructure to accommodate the growing traffic. (Read the article in Japanese .) Author: The Sankei Shimbun
Japan Forward
25-04-2025
- Business
- Japan Forward
Japan's New Frigate Joins Global Naval Competition
このページを 日本語 で読む On April 23, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) opened its newest Mogami -class frigate (FFM) to media inspection at the Yokosuka Base in Kanagawa Prefecture. This next-generation warship operates with a crew of just around 90, less than half that of a conventional destroyer. The mess hall aboard the JS Kumano. Due to space-saving measures, officers and enlisted personnel dine in the same area. (Photo by Shusuke Takenouchi) Despite its lean personnel, it is equipped to handle a broad range of missions, including surface combat, mine countermeasures, and anti-submarine warfare. The Japanese government is actively promoting defense exports and aims to showcase the high performance of its frigates. The bridge of the JS Kumano. A key feature is its ability to operate with half the crew of a traditional destroyer. (©Sankei by Shusuke Takenouchi) The JS Kumano , the second vessel in the Mogami -class lineup, was the model showcased to the press. Designed with stealth in mind, it features a streamlined exterior with minimal protrusions. Advanced digital systems enable remote control of weapons and onboard equipment from the Combat Information Center (CIC). So far, six ships in the class have entered service, with the JMSDF aiming to expand the fleet to a total of 12. The hallway inside the JS Kumano. The ship's compact design results in narrower passageways than those found on conventional destroyers. (©Sankei by Shusuke Takenouchi) Japan and Germany have been shortlisted as finalists in Australia's selection process for next-generation naval vessels. In its proposal, Japan put forward a jointly developed design based on an upgraded Mogami -class frigate. An unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) aboard the JS Kumano, used for mine detection. (©Sankei by Shusuke Takenouchi) Author: The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
Scottish Sun
23-04-2025
- Scottish Sun
Terrifying new giant railgun unveiled by Japanese Navy as futuristic hypersonic weapon uses magnets to fire at 5,600mph
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Japanese Navy has unveiled a terrifying new giant railgun that uses magnets to fire at 5,600mph. The futuristic hypersonic weapon was spotted on board the JS Asuka warship, as Japan accelerates its defences amid mounting tensions in the region. 2 The Japanese Navy has unveiled a terrifying new giant railgun Credit: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 2 Leaked images from 2018 show a Chinese warship complete with a railgun prototype Credit: X/XINFENGCAO The railgun was pictured by Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) undergoing some advanced testing. JMSDF confirmed that the commander of its Self Defense Fleet Vice Admiral Omachi Katsushi had visited the warship 'to observe the latest status of the railgun'. The mega-weapon weighs a hefty eight tonnes and has a barrel length of 20ft. Using electromagnets, it unleashes 40mm steel projectiles weighing 320g at targets such as ships, missiles, and aircraft - at 6.5 times the speed of sound. Railguns could revolutionise the way wars are fought as they have the potential to wipe out incoming hypersonic ballistic missiles A railgun is a type of weapon that uses powerful electromagnets to accelerate projectiles to very high speeds. Conventional weapons typically use explosives or propellant to launch ammunition, but electromagnetic forces make it possible for a railgun to achieve a much higher "muzzle velocity". While a normal gun might manage a projectile speed of around 4,000mph, a railgun could blast out projectiles faster than 5,600mph. This also means you don't need to transport explosive propellants or warheads - making a railgun-toting warship much safer than traditional vessels. The unveiling of the new weapon system comes as threats have increased in the region - from China, Russia and North Korea. Moment world's first railgun to be fired at SEA shoots steel round at unstoppable 6,000mph…6.5 times the speed of sound And the railgun 'supports the development of Japan's future combat readiness and national defence posture,' according to JMSDF. Research into the new weapon system started in 2016 and it carried out its first onboard firing test in October 2023. Incredible footage from the firing test showed the 44mm-calibre weapon shoot a number of rounds into the ocean from a ship But Japan is not the only country developing a railgun - China has been working on its own version for years in secret. In 2018, leaked images showed Chinese warship Haiyang Shan - a landing craft, equipped with a prototype electromagnetic railgun. The images were leaked online by an analyst called Dafeng Cao, who observes China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Cao sourced a number of images of a PLAN Type 072III-class warship from China's social media site Weibo, apparently showing a railgun on board. The US has been unsuccessful in its attempts to build a railgun system thus far. Several contractors attempted to build a system for US ships for years, including BAE Systems, which created a prototype. The gun was mooted to shoot projectiles at speeds of more than Mach 7 over a range of 100 miles. But the project was eventually scrapped after ten years in 2021 due to budget issues and a lack of interest. The project cost a whopping $500million.
The Sun
23-04-2025
- The Sun
Terrifying new giant railgun unveiled by Japanese Navy as futuristic hypersonic weapon uses magnets to fire at 5,600mph
THE Japanese Navy has unveiled a terrifying new giant railgun that uses magnets to fire at 5,600mph. The futuristic hypersonic weapon was spotted on board the JS Asuka warship, as Japan accelerates its defences amid mounting tensions in the region. 2 The railgun was pictured by Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) undergoing some advanced testing. JMSDF confirmed that the commander of its Self Defense Fleet Vice Admiral Omachi Katsushi had visited the warship 'to observe the latest status of the railgun'. The mega-weapon weighs a hefty eight tonnes and has a barrel length of 20ft. Using electromagnets, it unleashes 40mm steel projectiles weighing 320g at targets such as ships, missiles, and aircraft - at 6.5 times the speed of sound. Railguns could revolutionise the way wars are fought as they have the potential to wipe out incoming hypersonic ballistic missiles A railgun is a type of weapon that uses powerful electromagnets to accelerate projectiles to very high speeds. Conventional weapons typically use explosives or propellant to launch ammunition, but electromagnetic forces make it possible for a railgun to achieve a much higher "muzzle velocity". While a normal gun might manage a projectile speed of around 4,000mph, a railgun could blast out projectiles faster than 5,600mph. This also means you don't need to transport explosive propellants or warheads - making a railgun-toting warship much safer than traditional vessels. The unveiling of the new weapon system comes as threats have increased in the region - from China, Russia and North Korea. Moment world's first railgun to be fired at SEA shoots steel round at unstoppable 6,000mph…6.5 times the speed of sound And the railgun 'supports the development of Japan's future combat readiness and national defence posture,' according to JMSDF. Research into the new weapon system started in 2016 and it carried out its first onboard firing test in October 2023. Incredible footage from the firing test showed the 44mm-calibre weapon shoot a number of rounds into the ocean from a ship But Japan is not the only country developing a railgun - China has been working on its own version for years in secret. In 2018, leaked images showed Chinese warship Haiyang Shan - a landing craft, equipped with a prototype electromagnetic railgun. The images were leaked online by an analyst called Dafeng Cao, who observes China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Cao sourced a number of images of a PLAN Type 072III-class warship from China's social media site Weibo, apparently showing a railgun on board. The US has been unsuccessful in its attempts to build a railgun system thus far. Several contractors attempted to build a system for US ships for years, including BAE Systems, which created a prototype. The gun was mooted to shoot projectiles at speeds of more than Mach 7 over a range of 100 miles. But the project was eventually scrapped after ten years in 2021 due to budget issues and a lack of interest. The project cost a whopping $500million.
The Irish Sun
23-04-2025
- The Irish Sun
Terrifying new giant railgun unveiled by Japanese Navy as futuristic hypersonic weapon uses magnets to fire at 5,600mph
THE Japanese Navy has unveiled a terrifying new giant railgun that uses magnets to fire at 5,600mph. The futuristic hypersonic weapon was spotted on board the JS Asuka warship , as Japan accelerates its defences amid mounting tensions in the region. 2 The Japanese Navy has unveiled a terrifying new giant railgun Credit: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 2 Leaked images from 2018 show a Chinese warship complete with a railgun prototype Credit: X/XINFENGCAO The railgun was pictured by Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) undergoing some advanced testing. JMSDF confirmed that the commander of its Self Defense Fleet Vice Admiral Omachi Katsushi had visited the warship 'to observe the latest status of the railgun'. The mega-weapon weighs a hefty eight tonnes and has a barrel length of 20ft. Using electromagnets, it unleashes 40mm steel projectiles weighing 320g at targets such as ships, missiles, and aircraft - at 6.5 times the speed of sound. read more on japan Railguns could revolutionise the way wars are fought as they have the potential to wipe out incoming hypersonic ballistic missiles A railgun is a type of weapon that uses powerful electromagnets to accelerate projectiles to very high speeds. Conventional weapons typically use explosives or propellant to launch ammunition, but electromagnetic forces make it possible for a railgun to achieve a much higher "muzzle velocity". While a normal gun might manage a projectile speed of around 4,000mph, a railgun could blast out projectiles faster than 5,600mph. Most read in The Sun This also means you don't need to transport explosive propellants or warheads - making a railgun-toting warship much safer than traditional vessels. The unveiling of the new weapon system comes as threats have increased in the region - from China, Russia and North Korea. Moment world's first railgun to be fired at SEA shoots steel round at unstoppable 6,000mph…6.5 times the speed of sound And the railgun 'supports the development of Japan's future combat readiness and national defence posture,' according to JMSDF. Research into the new weapon system started in 2016 and it carried out its first onboard firing test in October 2023. Incredible footage from the firing test showed the 44mm-calibre weapon shoot a number of rounds into the ocean from a ship But Japan is not the only country developing a railgun - China has been working on its own version for years in secret. In 2018, leaked images showed The images were leaked online by an analyst called Dafeng Cao, who observes China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Cao sourced a number of images of a PLAN Type 072III-class warship from China's social media site Weibo, apparently showing a railgun on board. The US has been unsuccessful in its attempts to build a railgun system thus far. Several contractors attempted to build a system for US ships for years, including BAE Systems, which created a prototype. The gun was mooted to shoot projectiles at speeds of more than Mach 7 over a range of 100 miles. But the project was eventually scrapped after ten years in 2021 due to budget issues and a lack of interest. The project cost a whopping $500million.
