I have seen Red Dawn. I have sacrificed $10.75 and two hours of my life to this … movie.

The Question on Everyone’s Mind, Especially the Defense/Natsec Crowd, is … 

“How bad is Red Dawn?”

It is unfair to ask how a country such as North Korea, with a GDP smaller than North Dakota, could invade the United States. That’s the wrong question.

The real question is, “Can you handle Red Dawn?”

Well, can you? Do you think the first three Star Wars movies were actually good? Can you imagine a world where green means stop and red means go, nobody went to jail for the financial crisis and strawberries make for very good reading? Can you not just surrender belief, but literally sit in your seat and forget about everything you know, save that you must not void your bowels? Then you can totally handle Red Dawn.

Read the rest at Kyle’s blog.

Reuters photo.

Fifty-two years ago, the United States and Japan signed the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. Forged just 15 years after a brutal, racially charged war between the two nations, the treaty was an exercise in realpolitik. It was written with an eye toward not only Japan’s security but the containment of communism across Asia. The U.S.-Japan alliance is credited with nipping a resurgent Japanese militarism in the bud, providing a backbone of stability for postwar Asia, and giving the United States a base from which to confront China, Russia, and its satellites.

Today, Japan has fully recovered from the war to become the third-largest economy in the world. The threat of communism has evaporated. Yet despite the alliance’s past successes, it’s hard to conclude that it continues to serve the United States and Japan well. The alliance freezes the relationship in time, forcing both to adhere to antiquated policies. It views the regional security environment through a Cold War lens, distorting how other countries are perceived. Perhaps most importantly, it prevents Japan from evolving into a modern state and accepting the responsibilities that come with it.

Read the rest at The Atlantic.

Hayabusa 2. JAXA illustration.

by KYLE MIZOKAMI

Japan’s answer to NASA — JAXA — is slated to add defense and intelligence tasks to its traditionally civilian role. Kyodo explains:

A government panel on space program strategy plans to revise a law to allow the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to step outside its current commitment to peaceful projects and become involved in the use of space for national security.

Following the panel’s decision Friday, JAXA would be allowed to cooperate in developing spy and early warning satellites if the amendment bill is approved during the ordinary Diet session that convenes later this month.

The controversial move, however, is likely to provoke opposition to the military use of space.

The nation’s space program was based on a 1969 Diet resolution limiting it to nonmilitary fields in principle.

But a basic space program act enacted in 2008 stipulates that the program should contribute to security, permitting the use of space for defense purposes. (Link)

Japan maintains five spy satellites: three optical satellites and, as of December 12th, two radar satellites. In the United States, civilian and military space are both large enough to warrant separate programs. In Japan however, it just makes sense to have one agency control both areas. One possible concern with the merger is that military space in general is notoriously secretive and thus a spinner of red tape, which could slow down JAXA’s other civilian-oriented programs.

Along with the recent arms ban export relaxation, the decision to fold military missions into JAXA is part of a broad push towards mainstreaming defense and security in Japan.

Kyle Mizokami and Matt Bors.

Click through to revisit our Kim Jong Il Comix, created by Kyle Mizokami and Matt Bors to celebrate Dear Leader’s eccentric approach to war.

Beneath the often contentious U.S.-Japan basing dilemma is an underlying truth: that armed forces need to train in order to retain their effectiveness. Those based outside of their home countries not only need living space, room to park planes, and places to bury munitions, but they also need geographic space to train. Under the present conditions of the U.S.-Japan alliance, Japan finds itself confronted with the necessity of accommodating 27,000 American service members, their families, bases and equipment.

Under the terms of the U.S.-Japan Mutual Security Treaty, the United States provides Japan with protection; in return, Japan provides the United States with a forward presence in Asia. Size and numbers however, make this problematic. Japan is one of the most crowded nations on Earth, and with 121 million people crowded into an area a third of the size of California, land is at a premium.

As Japan gears up to confront a stronger China, funds for expanding and upgrading the Self-Defense Forces will be limited. The current economic crisis, as well as the need to rebuild communities damaged by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, will ensure that any funding increases will be marginal at best. The SDF will need to be able to do more with less.

Read the rest at The Diplomat.

Oosumi class. MSDF photo.

Within 45 minutes of the massive Tohoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami hitting the northeast of Japan on March 11, the country’s Maritime Self-Defense Forces had sortied their first ship from the fleet anchorage at Yokosuka, the destroyer Kurasame, sending it north. With 24 hours, 17 MSDF ships had been sent north. In less than a week, over 100,000 members of the Self-Defense Forces, hundreds of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, and more than 50 percent of the fleet was at work in the affected zone, doing everything from search and rescue, to sheltering displaced persons.

As naval support of the Tohoku emergency winds down, it’s a good time to consider how Japan might better address future disaster contingencies, as well as the country’s role in the world. Capitalizing on its recent experiences and those of other countries, Japan can build a pioneering fleet dedicated to disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, for both home and abroad. Such a fleet, under civilian control, would be a welcome sight both in Japan and abroad, in the aftermath of regional catastrophes and in regular visits to isolated Pacific communities that would welcome medical and technical assistance.

Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief missions are typically supported by naval vessels. The March Tohoku emergency, as well as the January 2010 Haitian earthquake, saw multinational fleets sortieing to the assistance of island nations. In both instances, natural disasters disrupted local airports and port facilities, slowing the flow of relief into the disaster zone. The design of naval vessels, such as the USS Essex in Tohoku and the Italian aircraft carrier Cavour in Haiti, made them key to opening up affected areas. Self-sufficient in food and power, and designed to serve a large expeditionary force, such ships are designed to project large amounts of military force abroad into less than ideal conditions. If one substitutes aid and assistance for force, the usefulness of naval designs is readily apparent. It’s no wonder then that Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief missions are typically carried out by naval vessels.

Read the rest at The Diplomat.

Lieutenant General Eiji Kimizuka, Commander, Joint Task Force-Tohoku. U.S. Navy photo.

Joint Task Force-Tohoku is the Japan Self-Defense Forces’ first-ever operationally deployed joint task force, commanding Ground, Air, and Maritime Self Defense Force units. JTF-Tohoku is commanded by Lieutenant General Eiji Kimizuka of the Ground Self Defense Forces. This is a big deal.

Japan’s armed forces have a history of maddening parochialism. During the Second World War, the Army and Navy bitterly struggled for national resources and overall control of the Imperial Armed Forces. Both had competing strategies and policies that they wished to impose on Japan. The Imperial Army and Navy both maintained separate air forces, even having their own separate fighter designs, as well as separate marine infantry and paratroop units. It is said that both services fought a war not only against the Allies, but the other service as well.

Even through the Cold War, the GSDF, ASDF, and MSDF were notoriously separate from one another. The problems this brought were not immediately obvious, since the SDF was a pacifist, defense-only military that was never tested by war. But it must have been obvious to those inside the SDF that the Americans, who excellent at joint operations and who frequently drilled with the Japanese, benefitted considerably from the lack of friction and cooperation among the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. As a result, recently there has been an emphasis among the SDF sister services to bring the concept of “jointness” to Japan. As the existence of JTF-Tohoku has pointed out, the effort has been successful.

In addition to disaster relief/humanitarian assistance, the joint task force concept will be particularly crucial in pursuit of Japan’s new “dynamic defense” doctrine. “Dynamic Defense”, which emphasizes the ability to deploy defensive forces into remote areas of Japan’s far-flung archipelago, will require joint operations from the start. GSDF troops will need to be shuttled around in ASDF transports. ADSF ships will need to clear the airspace to allow MSDF ships to operate. MSDF ships will need to provide gunfire support to GSDF troops. This will not only require a unity of effort, but of command as well. Despite the tragic circumstances, the establishment of JTF Tohoku will provide the SDF with tremendous experience in joint operations that will affect how the organization prepares for and fights wars.

Originally published at Japan Security Watch.

JS Bungo, a Uraga-class minesweeper tender. Via Globalsecurity.org.

Last year, for the first time Japan deployed a MSDF vessel in support of the U.S. Navy’s annual Pacific Partnership program. JS Kunisaki, an Ohsumi-class LST, was loaded with doctors, nurses, dentists, and engineers and sent to follow USNS Mercy as she worked her way from the South Pacific to Southeast Asia. Together the two ships dispensed free medical, dental, veterinary and engineering help to remote, impoverished communities.

According to the Ministry of Defense, Japan’s participation in Pacific Partnership will continue this year. Thirty to 40 medical personnel, a minesweeper-tender-type vessel, and ASDF aircraft will participate. The Ministry of Defense is also recruiting up to 30 Japanese NGO members to tag along. The MoD expects to be in East Timor from June 24 to July 14, and Micronesia from July 15 to August 3.

A minesweeper tender vessel could only mean one of the Uraga class. There are two ships in the Uraga class, Uraga and Bungo. Displacing an average of 5,675 tons each, the ships are 140 meters long and have a crew of 160. Both ships are outfitted with a 76 millimeter gun on the bow, as well as mine-laying equipment. A minesweeper tender is not the ideal choice: the ships lack the well decks and larger helicopter pads of the Ohsumi-class. Without landing craft or LCAC hovercraft, a Uraga-class vessel will have a more difficult time getting a heavier presence ashore. Uragas also sport a rather conspicuous 76 millimeter Oto-Melera cannon on the bow, which is incongruous for such a peaceful mission. (The same criticism could be made when the U.S. Navy used Austin-class LPDs in the Pacific Partnership program, but the sheer size of the Austins tended to dwarf any obvious armament.)

Why not an Ohsumi-class LST again? Good question. There are, after all, three of them, and Japan does not maintain at-sea amphibious forces like the U.S. Navy. The reason is unknown but the choice of a minesweeper tender (made before the Tohoku earthquake) may help preserve the Pacific Partnership mission as the Ohsumi ships are being used in earthquake relief.

Originally published at Japan Security Watch.

Type 74 Main Battle Tank with Dozer Attachment. Image via Military-Today.com

According to the Daily Yomiuri, the GSDF is sending two Type 74 main battle tanks to the Fukushima Daiichi reactor to help clean up rubble and debris from the earthquake, tsunami, and explosions at the reactor site. The rubble and debris are hampering emergency efforts to repair the reactors. The GSDF is using tanks instead of bulldozers because the thick steel hull of the Type 74 is effective at blocking some radiation from the crew. The tanks also have NBC air filtration systems.

The article says that the tanks will be sent from Camp Komakado, which according to Wikipedia is the headquarters of the 1st Tank Battalion, as well as the 1st Armored Training Unit. Other sources on the Internet indicate that one Type 74 per tank company is equipped with a dozer blade, in which case the 1st Tank Battalion probably has three such tanks on hand.

Kyodo News Agency has a picture of one of the tanks chained to a tank transporter.

Type 74 with dozer attachment. Kyodo News Agency.

Originally published at Japan Security Watch.

Damaged F-2 fighter at Matsushima Air Base. Internet photo.

Matsushima Air Base, just north of Sendai, suffered heavy damage due to flooding during the tsunami that swept the region. Located just seven feet (2.2 meters) above sea level, Matsushima was also located right on the coastline, and the wall of water swept over the base and continued inland.

Damage at the base has been widely reported, but what is less reported int the Western press is that 300 air base personnel, on leave at the time of the tsunami, are not accounted for. The missing reportedly lived in the nearby area. Eighteen F-2 fighters (pictured above) were also damaged, one pushed by the water and colliding nose-first with a building. Reports indicate those 18 fighters may not be salvageable for future use. Even the “gate guardians” of the base, including two T-2 trainers, one F-104 Starfighter, and two F-86 Sabres, had sustained damage.

Matsushima is right in the middle of the devastation, and if repairable could play a vital role in supporting relief operations all around it. The buildings may not be serviceable and fuel supplies may or may not be contaminated, but the air base is still miles of flat concrete capable of supporting helicopters, and it is still connected to the nearby community via Japan’s excellent roads. The U.S. Air Force maintains Red Horse engineering teams designed to repair and return to service damaged airfields. Four such units exist, the closest being the 554th Red Horse at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. It is unknown if the Japan Air Self-Defense Force has a similar capability.

Location of earthquake and aftershocks. NASA graphic.

At approximately 2:50 p.m. local time on March 11, a series of powerful earthquakes hit the northeastern part of Japan. The strongest of the earthquakes has been measured at an 8.9 magnitude and was felt as far away as Beijing.The earthquakes, along with resulting tsunamis and fires have so far claimed at least 300 lives, with that number expected to exceed 1,000.

The Japanese government’s response to the earthquake that struck Miyagi Prefecture was exceptionally swift. Within an hour, eight fighter planes of the Air Self-Defense Force had been launched to do damage assessment, and the Ground Self-Defense Force had received marching orders to move to the scene of the devastation. Within four hours, 300 aircraft and 40 ships of the SDF were put in action. According to Kyodo, all ships docked at Yokosuka were ordered to sail north to Miyagi.

At least four nuclear power plants were located in the worst affected areas. Three were apparently shut down without incident. The coolant system of the fourth reactor, Fukushima Daiichi, was crippled during the earthquake and there are reports that pressure on the plant’s safety systems is twice the rated requirement. There are reports of elevated levels of radioactivity inside the plant control room, and a community evacuation is in progress. Of particular note is the movement of a special Nuclear, Biological and Chemical-trained GSDF company-sized unit to Fukushima Daiichi. This unit, which may be the Central or 101st NBC Protection Unit, is part of Japan’s rapid-response Central Readiness Force and is equipped with NBC protection vehicles and advanced personal protection gear.

This part of Japan is considered the farthest from any conceivable military action, and as a result there are few Self-Defense Force facilities and resources in the area. Matsushima Air Base, located just north of Sendai on Ishinomaki Bay, was “completely submerged” by tidal waves. According to the Asahi, 18 F-2 fighters were submerged by the wall of water, as well as T-4 jet trainers and U-125 search and rescue aircraft. Eight thousand troops, likely the GSDF 6th Infantry Division, based at Otakineyama, are reportedly headed into the hardest-hit zones.

U.S. forces in the area have not sustained casualties or damage. USS Blue Ridge, command ship for the U.S. 7th Fleet, had just docked the day before in Singapore and is reportedly taking on disaster relief supplies before it returns to Japan. The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan is en route to the area, as is the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, embarked upon the USS Essex Amphibious Ready Group. Some 50 31st MEU personnel were scheduled to participate in a disaster relief exercise — along with personnel from the Self Defense Forces — in Indonesia beginning March 14.

Update: 3/14, 4:40 PM Japan Time
(From this point on, only military assets to be reported)

Japan
The Self Defense Forces are deploying 100,000 troops to the affected quake region. These troops will be drawn from all over Japan, including Kyushu and Hokkaido. 100,000 troops represents approximately 40% of the total strength of the Self Defense Forces. The Northeastern Army (approximate to a Western corps) is the designated headquarters for the relief effort. Technically much of the affected area is actually in the geographic area of responsibility of the Eastern Army, but the Eastern Army is headquartered in the heavily damaged city of Sendai.

In addition to the water damaged sustained at Matsushima Air Base, it has emerged that 300 base personnel who were on leave at the time of the tsunami are among the missing from surrounding communities.

Also, for the first time the SDF’s reserve forces are being mobilized, on a volunteer basis. Some 6,500 reservists have volunteered. Compared to other countries, the SDF has a small number of reservists, some 60,000 for a nation of 120,000,000.

Eighty-one dockworkers swept to sea aboard a ship during the tsunami were rescued by helicopters from the Maritime Self-Defense Force. At the same time, GSDF helicopters airlifted schoolchildren stranded at a school in Watari.

MSDF S-70 helicopters are operating off the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan.

United States
Helicopters:
The 33rd Rescue Squadron, 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base sending five HH-60 Pave Hawk search-and-rescue helicopters to Yokota Air Base.

Two SH-60 anti-submarine helicopters from Naval Air Facility Atsugi delivered 700 kilograms of rice and bread donated from Ebina City to Miyagi.

Ships:
Aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan has arrived on station, accompanied by USS Chancellorsville and USS Preble. Ronald Reagan will act as a sea base for U.S. and Japanese helicopters involved in the relief effort. (What happened to the fixed-wing planes? Did they go to Atsugi?) The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group was exposed to radiation from mainland Japan at a rate of one month’s worth of naturally occurring radiation per hour.

In his March 11 briefing, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates alluded to a second aircraft carrier being available for the Japan mission if necessary.

Landing Ship Dock USS Tortuga is picking up two MH-53 heavylift helicopters from Det. 1, HM-14 Squadron, based at Pohang, South Korea for transport to the earthquake zone.

Landing Helicopter Dock USS Essex is estimated to be in position off Japan no later than March 17.

Destroyers Landing Ships, Dock USS Harpers Ferry and USS Germantown were located in Philippine Sea at the time of the earthquake, and are on the way to Japan now.

Destroyer USS Mustin departed Yokosuka Naval Base yesterday, to link up with the rest of the 7th Fleet off Japan.

Seventh Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge embarked a Humanitarian Resistance/Disaster Relief Kit and left Singapore Saturday morning local time. Estimated to arrive off the coast of Japan late this week.

Update: 3/13, 5:30 PM Japan Time

Japan
One hundred thousand members of the Self-Defense Forces are now being committed to relief and recovery efforts in the Tohoku region.

Tsunami victim rescued at sea 15 kilometers off the coast of Japan by Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer.

United States
U.S. relief and assistance effort now officially “Operation Tomodachi” (“friend”).

U.S. P-3C Orion aircraft based in Japan are doing damage assessment overflights.

CH-46E helicopters from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma are shifting north to NAF Atsugi in Tokyo to support relief efforts

USS Ronald Reagan arrived on station off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture.

Amphibious ship USS Tortuga will onload 700 Japan Self-Defense Force personnel in Hokkaido (northern island) and deliver them to the earthquake area.

Rest of the World
A 15-member Chinese International Search and Rescue Team (again, with the giant flag last seen in Haiti) has arrived in Japan.

Germany has sent a 40-man Heavy Urban Search-and-Rescue team.

Turkey reports two teams totaling eight persons leaving for Japan.

Update: 3/12, 7:30 PM Japan Time

Japan
Twenty thousand JSDF are now deployed in support of relief efforts, along with 190 aircraft and 25 ships.

Forty-eight school kids were rescued by the Maritime Self Defense Force after 24 hours on a disabled ship.

A 66-person search team from Japan is preparing to return from New Zealand to help in their home country.

United States
The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and her strike group are expected to arrive off the east coast of Honshu Island March 13, and is prepared to serve as an afloat refueling platform for the JSDF and other helicopters.

The status of the USS Essex Amphibious Ready Group unclear but known to be headed to the earthquake area.

The aircraft carrier USS George Washington, home-ported in Yokosuka, Japan, was rumored to be docked at a maintenance pier when the earthquake hit, having spent much of the winter on joint U.S.-South Korean and U.S.-Japanese exercises. Whether or not it, too, will be deployed to assist in relief efforts is unknown at this point.

Two U.S. Navy SH-60 helicopters from NAF Atsugi (near Tokyo) delivered 1,500 pounds of rice and bread to Miyagi Prefecture.

The destroyers USS McCampbell and USS Curtis Wilbur are positioning to assist authorities with at-sea search, rescue and recovery operations off Miyagi prefecture.

The U.S. Agency for International Development is sending two teams of 72 personnel, dogs and 75 tons of rescue equipment.

Rest of the World
Sixty-eight teams from 45 Countries are on standby, according to the U.N.

Australia is sending 72 relief personnel on military aircraft.

China says one of its International Rescue Teams is ready to deploy to Japan, if asked.

New Zealand is sending a 48-person urban search-and-rescue team.

Singapore is sending a five-person, five-dog search team.

South Korea is sending five rescue workers and two search dogs, and is prepared to send 120 more relief workers and three military transport aircraft, if asked.

Lisa Mizokami photo.

The Japan Self Defense Forces are a lot like subatomic particles. Everyone knows they exist, or rather believes in the larger order of things that says they should exist, but few people can really tell you what they’re really like. The SDF keeps a low profile, in large part due to the anti-military and anti-war attitude built into modern Japanese society. For outsiders the best way to gauge the SDF is often through its interaction with the armed forces of other countries.

There was really only one question I had for Colonel Michael Hudson, the 11th MEU commander, and I thought I’d blown my chance when I missed the morning media interview with him. Fortunately, he was not only at the exercise, but actually came over to introduce himself. We chatted for several minutes, and I seized the opportunity.

“Say,” I asked the colonel, lowering my voice and jerking my head in the direction of the GSDF men. “Off the record, how good are these guys?”

*  *  *

It’s a tough question, but a fair one. As China rises and grows belligerent, that question is on the minds of people throughout the Pacific region. As China’s neighbor and theoretical rival in the Pacific, an effective Japanese military would go a long way to reassuring other Pacific nations that China could, if necessary, be put in check. An ineffective Japanese military means more work for everyone else.

Read more at Japan Security Watch.