Japan, the US and Australia are boosting their security cooperation!

Friday, January 20, 2012 

Japan, U.S., Australia To Hold 1st Joint Aviation Training In Guam 

TOKYO (Kyodo)--Japan's Air Self-Defense Force said Friday it will conduct joint training with the U.S. and Australian air forces for the first time in February in Guam, in a move believed to be aimed at keeping in check the rise of the Chinese military in the Asia-Pacific region. 

The drill, which will take place over the U.S. Andersen Air Force Base on Guam between Feb. 11 and 24, will involve 330 ASDF members, eight of its F-2 fighters, six F-15 fighters and three E-2C airborne early warning aircraft, according to the ASDF. 

ASDF Chief of Staff Gen. Shigeru Iwasaki said at a press conference it is important for Japan to ''strengthen its partnership with Australia, in view of the situation in the Pacific.'' 

The training exercise, which will cover aerial combat and defense, and electronic warfare, will also be held at a bombing range near the Andersen base, the ASDF said. 

Japan's National Defense Program Guidelines, last updated in late 2010, state Tokyo intends to strengthen its defense cooperation not only with its key ally, the United States, but also with South Korea and Australia. 

In July last year, the ASDF conducted a joint drill with the Australian air force for the first time.

Members of the Australian Army will also take part as observers in a Japan-U.S. joint command post exercise scheduled to begin later this month at a Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force garrison in Itami, Hyogo Prefecture, and other places, according to the GSDF. 

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 ...
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（Nikkei） Aircraft Designed For SDF To Get OK For Civilian Exports

(There is much room for Japan's aerospace and defense industry to expand business both inside and outside Japan. Cheers, Kosuke)

Monday, March 22, 2010

Aircraft Designed For SDF To Get OK For Civilian Exports

TOKYO (Nikkei)--The government has decided to let cargo planes and some other aircraft developed for the Self-Defense Forces be exported for nonmilitary use as a way of revitalizing a defense industry hit by a decline in spending, The Nikkei learned Sunday.

Civilian exports of the XC-2 may soon be cleared for takeoff.The move will initially cover three domestic aircraft models. The XP-1 patrol plane and the XC-2 cargo plane, both co-developed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. (7012) and the Defense Ministry, are undergoing flight tests. The US-2, produced by ShinMaywa Industries Ltd. (7224) for air-sea rescue work, is already being used by the Maritime Self-Defense Force.

Both Kawasaki Heavy and ShinMaywa had envisioned civilian use of these aircraft from the development stage. The XP-1 can be outfitted as a regional passenger jet, and the US-2 can be used for firefighting.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry estimates global demand for 100- to 150-seat passenger planes like the XP-1 at 9,400 units over the 20 years through 2027. And demand for large cargo planes similar to the XC-2 is projected to almost triple from current levels by that year.

METI also anticipates demand to replace firefighting aircraft in France, Spain and Italy over the next five years.

The government is pushing civilian use of aircraft designed for the SDF because the nation's defense spending continues to decline and aircraft prices are rising. By selling the aircraft to the private sector, the Defense Ministry expects to cut per-aircraft introduction costs and recoup a portion of development costs.

A study group of officials from relevant ministries will be formed as early as next month to discuss civilian use of the XP-1, the XC-2 and the US-2. Because these planes use mostly nonmilitary components, the government determined that the move would not violate rules banning the export of weapons.

(The Nikkei March 22 edition)