Japan Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

... Mines may seem like an old, World War I technology...but they have been upgraded with all sorts of high tech capabilities, and they are still an effective and relatively cheap weapon that any large maritime oriented nation has to take into strong consideration when developing its order of battle.

I just googled this:
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a recent presentation about sea-mines getting even nastier than they are now ... and a mining operation can be performed quickly (for example, one B-1 "Lancer" can carry 24 two-thousand-pound mines!)
 

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
Nice files !

I add for Mine Warfare there is very little ML, only China, SK, Japan, Turkey... get some ships, in general they are Subs and aicrafts which are used for these, one torpedo on Sub can be replaced by 2 mines.

In more the mines are very inexpensive but useful especially in straits and coastal areas, close port.

I don' t know how many mines must be set to cover a given surface.
 

Mr T

Senior Member
Japanese have a hell of a navy

I must say, I'm envious of the number of first-rate surface combatants they have. Not to say the Royal Navy doesn't have some wonderful ship classes, but the Japanese really do have a powerful fleet. Will be very interesting if/when they get proper fleet carriers.
 

Pointblank

Senior Member
The Japanese have a long shopping list per their latest defence plans:
- 28 more F-35's
- 17 V-22's
- 3 RQ-4 UAV's
- 4 new AWACS
- 2 AEGIS destroyers
- 99 Maneuver Combat Vehicle's
- 52 AAV-7A1's
- 3 refueling and transport aircraft

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Japan's new five-year Mid-Term Defense Program includes outlays for 17 new Osprey tiltrotor aircraft and three Global Hawk surveillance drones to help it respond to China's growing presence in the East China Sea.

The plan, revealed Dec. 13, starts in fiscal 2014. It is expected to be approved in a Cabinet meeting on Dec. 17 along with the National Defense Program Guidelines.

The government plans to use the new aircraft to heighten its capabilities to protect remote islands and to monitor China's activities in waters and airspace near the disputed Senkaku Islands.

It also said it will purchase 52 amphibious vehicles for the Ground Self-Defense Force for use in landing operations. The amphibious vehicles will be the same as those used by the U.S. Marine Corps. The plan also calls for reducing the number of GSDF tanks and replacing them with 99 eight-wheeled maneuver combat vehicles that have higher running capabilities than tanks.

Further spending will include 28 F-35 Lightning fighter jets for the Air Self-Defense Force, as well as four new early-warning aircraft and three new air-refueling and transportation aircraft.

Since the government put the Senkaku Islands under state ownership in September 2012, Chinese government's vessels have repeatedly intruded into Japanese territorial waters around the islands, heightening tensions between the two countries.

The Defense Ministry decided it was paramount to establish amphibious troops that will be able to take back islands in the event they are invaded and occupied.

With the introduction of the 17 Ospreys and 52 amphibious vehicles, the ministry believes the SDF will have landing capabilities comparable to those of the U.S. Marine Corps.
 

asif iqbal

Lieutenant General
I must say, I'm envious of the number of first-rate surface combatants they have. Not to say the Royal Navy doesn't have some wonderful ship classes, but the Japanese really do have a powerful fleet. Will be very interesting if/when they get proper fleet carriers.

Royal Navy may have powerful ships but the warship tonnage the JMSDF brings to the fight is enormous

Very modern, powerful and professional, the most important thing they have is critical mass which the RN lack, see JMSDF can go to war and sustain casualties and fight another day, whereas RN has a very sophisticated small fleet one of them goes or breaks down you losse a huge capability a massive gap in the defence

JMSDF has many many capable vessals
 
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SamuraiBlue

Captain
Hmmm...did they specifically indicate in the Five-Year plan that these are in fact F-35As?

SamuraiBlue?

Yes, Jeff?
I haven't been following this news that closely. The biggest debate about F-35 here in Japan is Japan participating in construction of F-35 and how it effects the principle of non-export of military equipment.
 

Rutim

Banned Idiot
Hmmm...did they specifically indicate in the Five-Year plan that these are in fact F-35As?

SamuraiBlue?
It's probably a part of process started last year with an order for 4 followed by 2 F-35A's as replacement for F-4.
The Uraga Class (of which two ships have been built) have a helo pad and hanger that is designed to carry one MH-53E Mine Countermeasure helicopter.
It's not designed to maintain a helo onboard but for replenishment and changing the armament. Various equipement is stored there (even though it's painted in standard color for an aircraft hanger used by MSDF).
As to armament, I know the second vessel, the Bungo, MST 464, has a 76mm DP naval gun mounted on the bow. The first vessel, the Uraga, MST 463, was supposed to be fitted with one as well...but I am not sure if that happened.
It should be the 73mm gun from another DD - Murakumo. But it has been abandoned due to it's bad condition. The fitting for FCS radar on top of the bridge still remains which is another clear point to distinguish both vessel onlt by looking on the bridge.
Anyone known if Minelayer Uraga class can receive in their hangar MH-53E or now MCH-101 and if he are armed now with 2 Phalanx ( which was to replace the 2 guns of 20 mm ) ?
20 mm CIWS in more 'serious' talks since 2010 (if I remember it well). Maybe if something will become available from decommissioned vessels?
But why are JMSDF so serious about the Mine Counter Measures warfare?
And it's worth to remember that WWII remains come to the surface from time to time around Japan emerging from the bottoms of the sea.
 
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I just noticed:
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then did a google search :) Ariake (DD-109), commisioned in 2002, is the final ship Murasame class; Setogiri (DD-156) is older, commisioned in 1990 (the sixth of Asagiri class).
 
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