Page 62 - NAVAL FORCES 03/2017

Regional Focus Asia Pacific

(a subsidiary of KHI). Finally, in April 2016, project between London and Tokyo is related are, not officially called soldiers]. Many of
the DCNS SHORTFIN “Barracuda” Block to chemical and biological protection technol- them decided to join the JSDF because it
1A was chosen for a requirement of 12 sub- ogies and in late March 2017, an agreement to offered a simple, secure job, but now there is
marines. undertake a joint study on co-development of a risk of being deployed to a conflict zone. Of
One of the reasons for this, at least accor ding next-generation aircraft was signed. A similar course, the attitude towards Abe’s decisions is
to local reports in Australia, was that Japan agreement with France was signed in March also related to political beliefs: Right-wingers
failed to offer an attractive offset, which could 2015 and came into force in December 2016. are happy with them, but, among the majority
have created job opportunities in Australia, As a more practical step, in January 2017, a of Japanese, pacifism is still very strong.”
which faces a period of de-industrialisation. cooperation agreement on mine detection and According to a 2014 poll, roughly 66.8% of
By choosing the Japanese bid, Canberra would unmanned underwater vehicles was signed. In those polled were against Abe’s new policy.
also have worsened its ties with China. It is February, Airbus Helicopters signed a contract In order to support amphibious operations,
also said that neither Japanese company had extension with ATLA on performance-based Japan has started an upgrade programme of
sufficient production capacity to deliver sub- logistics for H225 helicopters, five of which the “Osumi” class LSTs, meaning that they
marines simultaneously to Australia and the are in Coast Guard service, with a sixth or- will be able to transport AAV-7s and V-22B
JSDF. This was a major blow to Abe’s new dered in March 2016. Block Cs. The final unit will be upgraded by
export policy, not only from a prestige and ge- Japan’s defence potential, in terms of early 2020.
ostrategic perspective, but also from a purely both the JSDF’s needs and export, has been The MSDF will procure additional “Aegis”
economic one; the contract is worth €36 bil- strengthened by long-term cooperation with destroyers (DDG), destroyers (DD), subma-
lion over the next 30 years. the US. Japan is involved in the production of rines, P-1 aircraft, and SH-60K helicopters.
Japan is now interested in a modernisation F-35A aircraft and the establishment of a re- At the same time, it will upgrade its existing
programme in India, which is looking for six gional depot for them, as well as a joint main- destroyers, submarines (including those of
AIP-equipped attack submarines. Although tenance base for V-22s. A third project is relat- the new 3,000t class), P-3Cs and SH-60K/Js.
Tokyo was invited to submit a bid, there is ed to the transfer of software and parts of the The introduction of a new ‘compact-type hull’
only a minimal chance that it will be success- AEGIS weapons system, while a fourth focus- destroyer, new AWACS aircraft and a fixed
ful, since India expects that all units will be es on the joint development of the SM-3 Block air-defence radar system (FPS-7, with addi-
constructed in Indian shipyards. On the oth- IIA missiles, the first successful intercept for tional deployments and added ballistic missile
er hand, the “Sotyu’s” 4,200t displacement which took place in February 2017. The US defence capabilities) have been announced and
seems to meet current Indian requirements. could be an important partner in MHI’s current the current fleet of E-767 AWACS aircraft and
In this bid, Japan will have to compete (de- project for a new amphibious assault vehicle three ground support stations will also be im-
pending the final specification) with DCNS, with a speed of 20-25kts compared to the sev- proved. Under the current budget, the MSDF
Saab, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, and HHI en of the AAV-7. has €4 million for capability improvements to
(South Korea). the radars of the P-3C MPAs and €15 million
In order to increase its import/export po- Defence for Japan for life extension of three P-3Cs, while €39
tential, Japan has been developing industrial million is devoted to life extension of four SH-
interactions with Europe, albeit rather slowly. Large-scale modernisation and a military 60K/J helicopters. One OP-3P has received an
An agreement to transfer military equipment build-up are unlikely, however. Professor upgrade to its imagery intelligence for €5.82
and technology was signed with the UK in Zkowski explained: “An attitude of society to- million. Japan is also acquiring the RQ-4B
July 2013. Both countries are involved in a wards its military will not change rapidly; it is GLOBAL HAWK UAVs.
collaborative research project on the feasi- rather a slow process. It must also be remem- In the 2016 financial year, €46 million was
bility of a new joint air-to-air missile, which bered that Abe’s military policy is not always allocated to the life extension of “Asagari”
is scheduled to end by March 2018. Another welcomed by members of the JSDF [which class (5), “Abukuma” class (2), “Hatakaze”

An MV-22B OSPREY sits aboard
the JS SHIMOKITA during an exercise.

60 NAVAL FORCES III/2017