Latest news with #MizukiSato
Asahi Shimbun
03-05-2025
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
Saudi Arabia to help develop ‘next generation' stealth fighter
An artist's rendition of the next-generation fighter jet that Japan, Britain and Italy have been developing. (Provided by BAE Systems) Japan, Britain and Italy are almost ready to bring Saud Arabia on board in the development of a next-generation fighter aircraft, Japanese government officials told The Asahi Shimbun on May 2. The move is part of a multinational initiative dubbed the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) to jointly develop a sixth-generation stealth fighter. Saudi Arabia would be a 'partner country' in the project. Saudi Arabia has been seeking formal participation under the GIGO treaty, an intergovernmental organization that manages the development of fighter jets. The three countries decided at the end of 2022 to jointly develop the next generation fighter aircraft. Soon afterward, Saudi Arabia said it wanted in. Both Britain and Italy are eager to tap Saudi Arabia's oil-based financial resources, but Japan is concerned about development delays if another negotiating partner is added, as well as maintaining security secrecy, citing arms transactions involving Saudi Arabia, China and Russia. In talks held in mid-April, Riyadh did not insist on early participation as a formal member. As Tokyo does not expect Saudi Arabia to be directly involved in project development, it wants to limit Riyadh's cooperation to financial and other aspects. Even so, Japan, along with Britain and Italy, are working toward formal participation by Saudi Arabia under the treaty, but on condition that Saudi Arabia demonstrates beefed up technical capabilities and information security measures. (This article was written by Mizuki Sato and Taro Ono)
Asahi Shimbun
28-04-2025
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
Sea of Japan defense bolstered with F-35A jets at Komatsu base
An F-35A fighter jet deployed at the Komatsu Air Base in Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture, on April 26 (Mizuki Sato) A ceremony was held at the Air Self-Defense Force's Komatsu Air Base in Ishikawa Prefecture on April 26 for the deployment of three F-35A stealth fighter jets there. The F-35A is the latest stealth aircraft manufactured by the United States, and the Komatsu Air Base is considered 'the key to air defense in front of the Sea of Japan' with China, Russia and North Korea in mind. 'As the only combat air wing on the Sea of Japan side, the Komatsu Air Base plays an even greater role,' Masahito Monma, commander of the ASDF's Central Air Defense Force, said at the ceremony. Before the aircraft deployment to Komatsu earlier in April, only the Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture had F-35A fighters, 39 of them. To further strengthen air defenses on the Sea of Japan side, eight F-35Bs are scheduled to be deployed at Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki Prefecture by the end of fiscal 2025. 'The deployment in two locations will enhance the air defense capability on the Sea of Japan side,' a senior official of Defense Ministry said. The Japanese government plans to acquire 105 conventional F-35As and 42 F-35Bs, which can be mounted on large destroyers, aiming for a system with a total of 147 aircraft. A Defense Ministry official described the F-35 as 'difficult to be detected by an opponent and capable of easily finding the opponent first.' It also has strong information processing capabilities. The Komatsu Air Base plans to replace all of its F-15 fighters with F-35As and deploy four additional F-35As by the end of fiscal 2025, bringing the total to seven. The F-35 'exchanges highly confidential operational information and requires special maintenance facilities,' a senior ASDF official said. Therefore, the F-35s were first deployed at the Misawa Air Base, where the airfield is managed by the U.S. military and maintenance facilities were already in place. (This article was written by Mizuki Sato and Daisuke Yajima.)
Asahi Shimbun
24-04-2025
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
Unveiling high-tech destroyer, Japan seeks Australian buyer
The bridge of the destroyer Kumano is unveiled to the media on April 23 in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. (Mizuki Sato) As a key selling point, the Maritime Self-Defense Force's new destroyer Kumano can do more with less, at a time when naval personnel are being stretched to the limits. The MSDF touted this capability as it unveiled the Kumano to the news media at its Yokosuka Naval Base on April 23. Japan is hoping that its state-of-the-art Mogami-class frigate vessel, known as an FFM (Future Multi-mission Frigate), will find a place in the Royal Australian Navy fleet. A look aboard shows a host of high-tech features that could be attractive to an Australian Navy looking to modernize its fleet. 21ST CENTURY ON THE SEAS The interior of the Kumano differs substantially from conventional destroyers and is designed to minimize the number of crew members needed for operations. Stations such as the fire control room, telegraph room and pilot room, which were previously located separately on the ship, are now integrated in the combat information center (CIC), and all information can be viewed on a 360-degree screen. Crew members wear wristwatch-like biometric sensors to keep track of personnel positions. Equipped with a navigation system with GPS functionality, the new destroyer eliminates the need for an assistant navigator to manually draw nautical charts. Conventional destroyers require seven personnel on the bridge, but Kumano can be manned by four. JAPAN BATTLING GERMANY FOR CONTRACT Against the backdrop of the Kumano's unveiling is the Australian government announcement in February 2024 of a plan to introduce 11 new naval vessels to modernize the Royal Australian Navy. In November, the Japanese government officially announced its plan to participate in the joint development of the Australian Navy's new vessels. The Japanese government has proposed a more capable version of the MSDF's Mogami-class destroyer, by adding the performance capabilities required by Australia. Australia plans to replace its aging frigates with 11 new vessels, which are expected to cost a total of A$11.1 billion (about 1 trillion yen, or $7 billion). Three of the 11 vessels will be manufactured in the joint development countries first, and the rest will be built in Australia. Australia has named two finalists for the project, Germany and Japan. Australia will name the joint developer by the end of this fiscal year and deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2029. If the Japanese proposal is selected, it will be 'Japan's first large-scale equipment transfer project,' according to a senior Defense Ministry official. For this reason, Japan has been making a major sales push. U.S. HELP SOUGHT IN SALES PITCH According to several ministry officials, the Japanese government has sought the cooperation of the United States in pushing for Japan's proposal to be accepted by Australia, and the U.S. side is said to be willing to do so. At a Japan-U.S. defense ministerial meeting held at the end of March, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani asked U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to support the Japanese proposal. Japan is seeking the cooperation of the U.S. side because the Japanese proposal is advantageous to its close ally in that it is 'easier to mount U.S.-made missiles,' according to a senior ministry official. It is assumed that Tomahawk cruise missiles, ESSM ship-to-air missiles and Harpoon anti-ship missiles will be installed aboard. However, it is believed that many in the Australian Navy support the German proposal, which has already been introduced and is considered less expensive. REDUCTION IN PERSONNEL A HUGE PLUS The main selling point of the FFM is the 'reduction in manpower' needed to operate the vessel. The Kumano destroyer has a crew of about 90, about half that of conventional vessels. The new FFM, which Japan hopes to jointly develop with Australia, can be operated with the same 90 crew members as the Kumano. That is about 30 fewer than the 120 crew members required on German naval vessels. Driving the need for fewer personnel aboard is the manpower shortage in the MSDF, where long naval careers are shunned. The SDF has suffered a recruitment shortfall of about 20,000 personnel in recent years. The number of recruits for the SDF in fiscal 2023 dipped to a record low of 50.8 percent of the planned recruitment quota. A senior Defense Ministry official said, 'Australia's navy is also understaffed." The official said the 'reduction of manpower will be the greatest weapon in selling to Australia.' (This article was written by Mizuki Sato and Daisuke Yajima.)
