Tag - defense ministry

 
 

DEFENSE MINISTRY

Members of the Self-Defense Forces stand in formation at Camp Asaka on Nov. 9.
JAPAN
Dec 27, 2024
Japan uncovers 100 new cases of mishandled security secrets at SDF
The ministry has been conducting investigations after many rule violations related to the handling of secrets were found earlier this year.
Some of the slush funds pooled by Kawasaki Heavy Industries were used to wine and dine Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel, the Defense Ministry said.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 27, 2024
Kawasaki Heavy found to have pooled ¥1.7 billion in slush funds
Some of the funds were used by the defense contractor to wine and dine Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel, the Defense Ministry said.
Elbridge Colby (center) speaks at the Threat and the Strategy panel during the Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, in September 2019.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 23, 2024
Trump's Pentagon policy pick pushed for Japan to spend 3% of GDP on defense
Elbridge Colby said in an interview earlier this year that Japan is moving at a leisurely pace on defense despite being under threat from China and North Korea.
Self-Defense Force members march in formation at Camp Asaka, which straddles Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture, during a ceremony on Nov. 9.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 21, 2024
Japan ready to improve working conditions for SDF members
Improving working conditions for the members "is a serious challenge" for his administration, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told a meeting of relevant Cabinet ministers.
Chinese President Xi Jinping's government is strengthening cooperation with Middle East countries and diversifying its involvement in African nations, a Japanese government think tank said.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 18, 2024
China boosting influence over Global South, Japan think tank says
An annual report on China by the National Institute for Defense Studies says that Beijing's growing sway has the risk of destabilizing the region.
Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson reviews an honor guard during a ceremony with his Japanese counterpart, Gen Nakatani, ahead of a bilateral meeting at the  Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 4, 2024
Sweden aims to deepen defense cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners
Stockholm plans to boost cooperation in defense policy dialogue and technology exchanges while boosting its military presence.
A Chinese J-16 fighter jet is seen during a joint patrol with Russian forces on Friday.
JAPAN
Nov 30, 2024
China and Russia conduct joint military air patrol near Japan
This was the eighth large-scale joint flight by military aircraft from the two countries near Japan and the first since December last year.
A prototype vehicle equipped with a laser system to destroy drones is unveiled at the Ground Self Defense Force's Asaka training field in Saitama Prefecture on Nov. 9.
JAPAN
Nov 18, 2024
Japan to test anti-drone laser system next year
The prototype vehicle is based on an existing large GSDF vehicle and is equipped with a high-power laser and a system to automatically detect and track targets.
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani speaks during a news conference at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN
Nov 16, 2024
Japan defense chief says no decision yet on relocating U.S. military's command
A U.S. newspaper reported that U.S. Forces Japan is considering moving its command from its Yokota base in Tokyo's western suburbs to central Tokyo.
A SeaGuardian unmanned drone is seen at the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Hachinohe Air Base in Aomori Prefecture in June last year.
JAPAN
Nov 16, 2024
MSDF to deploy U.S.-made SeaGuardian surveillance drones
The Defense Ministry said Friday it plans to procure a total of 23 SeaGuardian drones over the next 10 years or so.
A Russian Navy Yasen-class vessel that sailed westward through the Soya Strait on Monday
JAPAN
Nov 12, 2024
Russian nuclear-powered submarine sails through Soya Strait
The presence of a Yasen-class vessel, Russia's most advanced nuclear-powered attack submarine, was confirmed by the MSDF for the first time.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivers a speech prior to reviewing Self-Defense Forces troops during a ceremony at the Ground Self-Defense Force's Camp Asaka, which straddles Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture, on Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 9, 2024
Ishiba vows to bolster alliance with U.S. following Trump return
Work is underway for setting up Ishiba's first face-to-face meeting with Trump, who won Tuesday's U.S. presidential election, later this month.
A man watches a news broadcast about a North Korean missile test, at the main rail station in Seoul on Thursday.
JAPAN
Nov 5, 2024
North Korea fires off missiles hours before U.S. voters head to polls
Pyongyang launched at least seven short-range missiles that flew about 400 kilometers each before splashing down in waters outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.
A man at a rail station in Seoul watches a news broadcast on Thursday with file footage of a North Korean missile test.
ASIA PACIFIC
Oct 31, 2024
North Korea fires off ICBM with longest flight time yet
The missile, which flew for 86 minutes, fell outside Japan's exclusive economic zone, landing in waters some 300 kilometers west of Hokkaido's Okushiri Island.
Hugh Jeffrey, the Australian Department of Defence’s deputy secretary for strategy, policy and industry, says the next 18 to 24 months will see Tokyo and Canberra not only test and share new technologies and capabilities, it will also see increased military deployments to each other’s territories.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 29, 2024
Japan and Australia gear up for boosted defense tie-ups over next two years
In an interview, a senior Australian defense official spoke about cooperation in the industrial and technical fields in addition to military-to-military ties.
A Ground Self-Defense Force V-22 Osprey transport aircraft
JAPAN
Oct 28, 2024
GSDF suspends Osprey flights over accident during training
All GSDF Ospreys will remain grounded until the cause of the incident is identified and countermeasures are taken thoroughly.
When Italy’s Cavour aircraft carrier visited Japan in August, it was the latest in a string of other ports of call by European nations such as Britain, Germany and France, all of whom are engaging in military and defense industry partnerships in East Asia.
ASIA PACIFIC / Longform
Oct 25, 2024
Will Europe's pivot to Asia have any teeth?
Deals are being made and carriers are making visits, but it is yet to be seen if nations on the other side of the world will come when a crisis hits.
NEC CEO Takayuki Morita
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 25, 2024
Japan’s military pivot is firing up NEC’s defense tech business
NEC is targeting more than 60% revenue growth in its aviation, space and defense unit by March 2026.
An F-35B stealth fighter jet lands on the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Kaga helicopter carrier during a test on Sunday of the southern coast of California.
JAPAN
Oct 22, 2024
F-35B fighter makes first landing on de facto aircraft carrier Kaga
The Maritime Self-Defense Force is conducting tests to determine if there are issues with such aircraft taking off from the vessel while verifying other procedures.
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 20, 2024
Japan and U.S. defense chiefs voice 'sense of crisis' amid China military moves
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also agreed to work toward bolstering their command-and-control frameworks.

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