Latest news with #JapanSelfDefenseForces
NHK
3 days ago
- General
- NHK
F-35B fighters arrive in Japan as Self-Defense Forces' first deployment
F-35B stealth fighter jets procured for the Japan Self-Defense Forces arrived at an airbase in Japan on Thursday as the SDF's first deployment of the aircraft. The arrival comes amid criticisms by locals who are concerned about the jet's noise during training. The three jets flown by US military pilots landed at the Air Self-Defense Force's Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki Prefecture shortly past 1:30 p.m. The aircraft can take off from short runways and make vertical landings. The noise generated during the landing is louder than from conventional jets. In order for the residents to confirm the noise, the first jet that arrived conducted a vertical landing as a demonstration. It gradually reduced its speed about 2 kilometers from the landing point, and took about a minute to complete touchdown. Japan's Defense Ministry says the arrival of a fourth jet was postponed due to a delay in inspections. Previously the ministry had said landing training will not take place except for emergencies. But it angered local residents and the prefectural government by changing its stance and announced training would take place not only during the day but also at night. Finally, the ministry announced it was preparing a reviewed plan for training to be presented this autumn, and said landing training will not take place until explanation of the plan to the local population has been completed. The ministry says it wants to use the jets on a Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer whose deck is undergoing modification work to allow the stealth fighter jets to take off and land.
Al Arabiya
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Japan Conducts Its First Missile Test on Its Own Territory
Japan's army announced Tuesday that it conducted a missile test for the first time on Japanese territory. The test-firing of the Type-88 surface-to-ship short-range missile was conducted Tuesday at the Shizunai Anti-Air Firing Range on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido. The exercise by the Ground Self-Defense Forces 1st Artillery Brigade was joined by about 300 soldiers who fired at an unmanned boat about 40 kilometers (24 miles) off the southern coast of Hokkaido, officials said. Officials were still examining the results of the test, they said. The test was conducted as Japan accelerates its military buildup to acquire strike-back capabilities as a deterrence to China. Japan plans to deploy long-range cruise missiles, including Tomahawks, beginning later this year. Japan has previously conducted missile tests overseas, including in the territories of its defense partners, such as the US and Australia.
Al Arabiya
09-06-2025
- General
- Al Arabiya
Four injured in explosion at US air base in Japan
An explosion injured four men at a Japanese facility for storing unexploded bombs at a US air base in Okinawa on Monday, a fire official said, with their condition reportedly not critical. Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF) members at the facility at Kadena Air Base were trying to wipe rust off items at the facility to re-assess if they were bombs, said local fire department official Akira Kamiunten. During that process there was an explosion that injured four male SDF members who were rushed to hospital, he told AFP. Jiji Press and other local media said none of the injuries was life-threatening. A defense ministry spokesman also confirmed reports of an explosion at Kadena Air Base, located on the main island of the southern region of Okinawa. During World War II, Japan used Okinawa as a buffer to slow US forces. More than a quarter of the main island's civilian population died in the 1945 Battle of Okinawa. US occupation only ended there in 1972, under a mutual treaty that left American bases in place. Today, Okinawa contains 70 percent of the land used for US bases in Japan, and more than half of the 50,000-strong US troop presence.
CNA
09-06-2025
- General
- CNA
Four injured in explosion at US air base in Japan
TOKYO: An explosion injured four men at a Japanese facility for storing unexploded bombs at a United States air base in Okinawa on Monday (Jun 9), a fire official said, with their condition reportedly not critical. Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF) members at the facility at Kadena Air Base were trying to wipe rust off items at the facility to re-assess if they were bombs, said local fire department official Akira Kamiunten. During that process, there was an explosion that injured four male SDF members who were rushed to the hospital, he told AFP. Jiji Press and other local media said none of the injuries were life-threatening. A defence ministry spokesman also confirmed reports of an explosion at Kadena Air Base, located on the main island of the southern region of Okinawa. During World War II, Japan used Okinawa as a buffer to slow US forces. More than a quarter of the main island's civilian population died in the 1945 Battle of Okinawa. US occupation only ended there in 1972, under a mutual treaty that left American bases in place.
