Japan, China re-establish military exchanges
Japan and China have resumed military exchanges after they were suspended for a year over a territorial dispute. Japanese Defence Minister Yasuo Ichikawa met ...
21-Oct-2011
Showing posts with label PLAN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PLAN. Show all posts
Saturday, October 22, 2011
My latest story for Jane's Defence Weekly
Japan, China re-establish military exchanges
Japan and China have resumed military exchanges after they were suspended for a year over a territorial dispute. Japanese Defence Minister Yasuo Ichikawa met ...
21-Oct-2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
My latest stories for Jane's Defence Weekly
ASIA PACIFIC
Date Posted: 09-Jun-2011
Jane's Defence Weekly
Japan keeps eye on PLAN flotilla as it passes Okinawa
Kosuke Takahashi
JDW Correspondent
Tokyo
The Japanese Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that 11 Chinese naval vessels sailed through international waters
between the islands of Okinawa and Miyako on 8-9 June: the largest flotilla of Chinese warships seen passing in the area.
According to the MoD, the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships, including four frigates and three Russian built Sovremenny-class guided-missile destroyers, were observed by the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) over a two-day period. The presence of a submarine rescue ship suggests that submarines were also part of the flotilla, but this was not confirmed.
General Ryoichi Oriki, Chief of the Japan Self-Defence Force (JSDF) Joint Staff, said the JSDF would continue to monitor the PLAN's intensifying activities in waters off Japan.
On 9 June the Chinese Ministry of Defence said a PLAN fleet would conduct exercises in the west Pacific in mid-tolate June. "This will be a regular drill according to the [PLA's] annual plan," the ministry statement said.
Copyright © IHS Global Limited, 2011
ASIA PACIFIC
Date Posted: 09-Jun-2011
Jane's Defence Weekly
Marines to station Ospreys at Futenma
Kosuke Takahashi
JDW Correspondent
Tokyo
The US Department of Defense (DoD) said it plans to station the MV-22 Osprey at the controversial US Marine Corps air station at Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, from late 2012 as part of an ongoing replacement of its ageing CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter fleet.
"The Marine Corps is in the process of phasing out the CH-46 and replacing it with the MV-22," Pentagon spokesman Colonel Dave Lapan said in a 6 June statement. "This process is beginning with units based at CONUS [continental US] air stations."
Japanese Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa said on 7 June he would visit Okinawa to explain the US plan to Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima.
Okinawans have opposed the deployment of Ospreys at Futenma, which is located in a densely populated part of Ginowan City, citing concerns about safety and noise pollution of the MV-22: a tilt-rotor vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) transport aircraft. During its development the Osprey suffered a series of accidents.
Futenma is due to close in 2014 under plans agreed in 2006 by the US and Japanese governments. However, this schedule is unlikely to be realised due to continuing disagreement about the marines' new home.
"According to the current USMC Aviation Plan, the MV-22 will replace the CH-46 within III MEF [Marine Expeditionary Force] in late 2012," Lapan said. "We have recently begun discussing the mechanics of the notification process involved with introducing this important Alliance capability to Okinawa.
"In comparison to the CH-46, the MV-22 is even safer, generally quieter and considerably more capable," he said.
Date Posted: 09-Jun-2011
Jane's Defence Weekly
Japan keeps eye on PLAN flotilla as it passes Okinawa
Kosuke Takahashi
JDW Correspondent
Tokyo
The Japanese Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that 11 Chinese naval vessels sailed through international waters
between the islands of Okinawa and Miyako on 8-9 June: the largest flotilla of Chinese warships seen passing in the area.
According to the MoD, the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships, including four frigates and three Russian built Sovremenny-class guided-missile destroyers, were observed by the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) over a two-day period. The presence of a submarine rescue ship suggests that submarines were also part of the flotilla, but this was not confirmed.
General Ryoichi Oriki, Chief of the Japan Self-Defence Force (JSDF) Joint Staff, said the JSDF would continue to monitor the PLAN's intensifying activities in waters off Japan.
On 9 June the Chinese Ministry of Defence said a PLAN fleet would conduct exercises in the west Pacific in mid-tolate June. "This will be a regular drill according to the [PLA's] annual plan," the ministry statement said.
Copyright © IHS Global Limited, 2011
ASIA PACIFIC
Date Posted: 09-Jun-2011
Jane's Defence Weekly
Marines to station Ospreys at Futenma
Kosuke Takahashi
JDW Correspondent
Tokyo
The US Department of Defense (DoD) said it plans to station the MV-22 Osprey at the controversial US Marine Corps air station at Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, from late 2012 as part of an ongoing replacement of its ageing CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter fleet.
"The Marine Corps is in the process of phasing out the CH-46 and replacing it with the MV-22," Pentagon spokesman Colonel Dave Lapan said in a 6 June statement. "This process is beginning with units based at CONUS [continental US] air stations."
Japanese Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa said on 7 June he would visit Okinawa to explain the US plan to Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima.
Okinawans have opposed the deployment of Ospreys at Futenma, which is located in a densely populated part of Ginowan City, citing concerns about safety and noise pollution of the MV-22: a tilt-rotor vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) transport aircraft. During its development the Osprey suffered a series of accidents.
Futenma is due to close in 2014 under plans agreed in 2006 by the US and Japanese governments. However, this schedule is unlikely to be realised due to continuing disagreement about the marines' new home.
"According to the current USMC Aviation Plan, the MV-22 will replace the CH-46 within III MEF [Marine Expeditionary Force] in late 2012," Lapan said. "We have recently begun discussing the mechanics of the notification process involved with introducing this important Alliance capability to Okinawa.
"In comparison to the CH-46, the MV-22 is even safer, generally quieter and considerably more capable," he said.
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