2020 DEFENSE OF JAPAN Defense White Paper DIGEST Defense of Japan including its Remote Islands Defense of Japan’s Remote Islands ● In response to attack on Japan including its remote islands, the SDF will quickly maneuver and deploy requisite units to block access and landing of invading forces while ensuring maritime and air superiority. Even when maintaining maritime and air superiority becomes untenable, the SDF will block invading forces’ access and landing from outside their threat envelopes. Should any part of the territory be occupied, the SDF will retake it by employing all necessary measures. ● In order to strengthen its defense architecture in the southwestern region, a surface-to-air missile unit and a surface-to-ship guided missile unit were deployed to Miyakojima Island in March 2020. The GSDF will deploy an area security unit in charge of the initial response and other units also in Ishigaki Island. ● As part of measures to enhance the persistent ISR posture, the ASDF established Airborne Warning and Control Wing by upgrading the Airborne Early Warning Group in March 2020 and will establish a temporal unmanned aerial vehicle unit (tentative name) within FY2020. ● In order to secure capabilities for swift and large-scale transportation and deployment of units, the MOD established a Tactical Airlift Wing that operates Osprey in March 2020. Response to Missile Attacks Establishment ceremony of the Airborne Warning and Control Wing (March 2020) ● Currently, Japan’s Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) is an effective multi-layered defense system with the upper tier interception by Aegis equipped destroyers and the lower tier by Patriot PAC-3, both interconnected and coordinated by the Japan Aerospace Defense Ground Environment (JADGE). ● In order to effectively and effi ciently counter increasingly complex and diverse airborne threats by optimum means and minimize damage, the SDF will establish a structure to conduct integrated operation of various equipment for missile defense and air defense equipment, thereby providing persistent nation-wide protection from peacetime and also enhancing the comprehensive air and missile defense capability that can simultaneously deal with multiple, complex airborne threats. ● As for the introduction of the land-based Aegis system (Aegis Ashore), in June 2020, it was decided to suspend the process. Future direction will be examined based on the discussion at the NSC. Launched Aegis-equipped Destroyer JS “Maya” (March 2020) Responses in the Domains of Space, Cyberspace and Electromagnetic Spectrum Responses in Space Domain ● The MOD aims to establish SSA system by FY2022 to monitor and maintain an accurate picture of conditions in space. The MOD is also working to deploy radar to monitor threats to Japanese satellites, such as space debris, and its operating system. ● In preparation for full-scale SSA operation and introduction of defense equipment, the ASDF established Space Operations Squadron in May 2020. Establishment ceremony of Space Operations Squadron (May 2020) Response in Cyber Domain ● The MOD/SDF has taken comprehensive measures to ensure the safety of information and communication systems and respond to cyber attacks by a specialized unit, etc. ● The Cyber Defense Group will be further expanded by about 70 personnel to approximately 290 in FY2020. Digest 28