National Jan 23, 2021
Up to 200 Japanese nationals are expected to compete to show the breadth of their abilities in areas such as computer security system vulnerabilities and information analysis
National Jan 19, 2021
The two nations' foreign and defense ministers will likely agree to work closely on Britain's plan to dispatch an aircraft carrier strike group to the western Pacific.
National Jan 15, 2021
Japan hails U.K. plan to send aircraft carrier group to Asia
A British strike group, centered on the aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth, is expected to carry out joint exercises with the Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military.
National Jan 12, 2021
Japan considers vehicle-mounted lasers to ward off drone attacks
The Defense Ministry is also continuing with research on the use of microwaves to knock out drones.
National Dec 22, 2020
MSDF's two top officers among eight senior officials with COVID-19
Chief of Staff Hiroshi Yamamura and Vice Chief of Staff Naruto Nishi will work remotely under quarantine, along with six other officials who worked with them at the Defense Ministry.
National Dec 21, 2020
Japan approves record defense budget for fiscal 2021 amid China threats
by Reito Kaneko
The draft budget, up 0.5% from the previous year, includes funding to introduce new standoff missiles capable of attacking enemy vessels from outside their firing range.
National Dec 19, 2020
Defense Ministry to team up with Keidanren to promote arms exports
The move comes as China advances military buildups, raises defense spending and increases assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
National Dec 18, 2020
Japan will work with Lockheed Martin on new fighter jet, Defense Ministry says
The Defense Ministry weighed the American aerospace giant's experience in delivering the U.S. military's mainstay F-22 and F-35 stealth fighters when narrowing down potential partners.
Commentary / Japan Dec 17, 2020
Bringing the MSDF to Ishigaki Island amid China’s ramped-up territorial ambitions
by Robert Eldridge
Ishigaki Island voters have a keen awareness of national security needs. This is especially true in recent years as China’s territorial ambitions toward the Senkaku Islands
National Dec 16, 2020
Japan's 2021 defense budget to be record high of ¥5.34 trillion
As for tax revenue, the government predicts it to be below ¥60 trillion for fiscal 2021, given the expected fallout from the pandemic on corporate earnings, the sources said.
National Dec 15, 2020
Japan and China to seek setup of defense hotline amid isle row
The two neighbors launched a communication mechanism between their defense authorities in 2018 to avoid accidental clashes at sea and in the air.
National | ANALYSIS Dec 14, 2020
Japan set to approve new ships and missiles but defer legal questions
by Jesse Johnson and Eric Johnston
Two new destroyers will fill the gap left by a canceled deployment of Aegis Ashore, while improved missiles will offer the ability to strike from beyond the range of enemies.