The JMSDF (Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force) Essays

The JMSDF (Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force) The JMSDF (Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force) Japan is an island country surrounded by water. This means that the threat to Japan always comes from the sea. Japan also relies heavily on other countries for the supply of natural resources that are indispensable to national existence. Over 90 percent of imports are transported through sea routes. Taking into account the factors of geographical and economic features, the main mission of Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) is to defend the island country from a maritime invasion and to secure the safety of maritime traffic around Japan. In order to defend Japan from the maritime invasion and to secure the safety of maritime traffic around Japan, the JMSDF conducts various kinds of operations. Operations include: patrol, escort, and defense of key ports and straits, with its 130 ships and 200 aircraft. The self-defense Fleet takes charge of overall maritime operations around Japan, and each Regional District force conducts maritime operations and logistic support, in each assigned area in close cooperation with the self-defense Fleet. Amphibious assault, missile attack by submarines or aircraft, laying mines and attack by surface ships can be considered a direct attack against Japan and the interference of its maritime traffic, the JMSDF executes Anti Submarine, Anti Air, Anti Surface, Mine Laying and other operations depending on the threat. A series of operations that range from searching to sinking submarines is called Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW). The modern submarines' improved capabilities in performances, quietness, offensiveness, as well as detecting nuclear submarines, which are semi-permanently submergible, bring further threat to the security of maritime traffic to Japan. To cope with these circumstances, the JMSDF has steadily focused on modernizing its weaponry and improving the skills of crew involved in ASW, engaging in its mission with full morale. The object of Anti Air Warfare (AAW) is defending surface groups and ships against an attack from the air. Flight performances and offensive capability of aircraft have remarkably improved in recent years, and most of the surface ships and submarines of the Japanese defense force mount Anti Surface missiles. In today's world, a threat from the air against surface ships has become extremely dangerous and complicated. Accordingly, in terms of AAW, it is necessary to form the multi-layered air defense system composed of the guns and missiles as well as to avoid missile attack through electronic counter measures. To improve these AAW capabilities, the JMSDF has embarked on introduction of the new Aegis (guided missile frigates) type escort ships since 1988. Recently, surface ships have tended to mount long range SSMs (Surface to Surface Missile), and ship's tactics are shifting from exchanging fire by guns to launching SSMs from a distance. Offensive capabilities against the surface forces are vital to attack hostile ships that intend to assault Japan, to defend our vessels from the attack of enemy ships mounting SSM, and to secure the safety of maritime traffic around Japan. Mine Warfare is divided into Mine Countermeasure Operation; which aims at removing mines laid by enemies, and Mining Operation; which aims at laying mines to protect Japan from an enemy's landing invasion and coastal defense. The JMSDF's capability of Mine Countermeasure Operation is highly ranked among the leading countries as a result of its actual disposing mines at the end of the Pacific War, and still more making efforts to improve its capability coping with the highly advanced mines. The Overseas Minesweeper Force, dispatched to the Persian Gulf in 1991, achieved brilliant success under the harsh natural environment, and was highly evaluated at home and abroad. In order to deter landing inroad and passing through the channel by enemy forces, the mining operation is also conducted on the occasion of making minefields on the shore or key channel where enemy landing invasions will be expected. The JMSDF has removed numerous mines laid in Japanese waters and ports during the World War II and is still engaged in minesweeping operations which are active to this very day. Electronic Warfare is defined as operations to detect and make reverse use of the enemy's magnetic waves while detecting the enemy and securing Japan's effective use of magnetic waves for itself. In Electronic Warfare, there are three measures. First is electronic support measure (ESM), which are ships equipped with the ability of electronic detection and missile alarm systems. The second measure is that of electronic counter measure (ECM), which are ships equipped with electronic jamming and chaff rocket launcher systems. The third measure is electronic counter-counter measure (ECCM), which are surface ships equipped with various radar equipment capable of avoiding the enemy's own electronic countermeasure. For