The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) held its latest International Fleet Review (IFR) on November 6 in the waters of Sagami Bay, south of Tokyo, which also marked the service’s 70th anniversary.
Twenty Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force assets, including surface combatants and submarines, and 18 ships from countries including Australia, India, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States participated in the review.
Some of IFR’s key events include a military parade in the port city of Yokosuka on November 3, where JMSDF personnel paraded with participating navies, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reviewed the participating fleet during the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s voyage. Izumo-class multipurpose destroyer JS Izumo.
Notable players include the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), which dispatches key assets such as the Hobart-class air combat destroyer HMAS HobartAnzac-class frigate HMAS greetingCollins-class diesel-electric submarine HMAS Falcombeand the supply-level supply ship HMAS firm.
As a sign of the thaw in South Korea-Japan relations, the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) participated with its fast combat support ship ROKS soybeanThe last time the South Korean navy had a multinational naval fleet activity with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force was in 2015, after tensions between the two countries over a range of bilateral issues hindered further exchanges.
Meanwhile, other leading regional navies such as the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) have fielded their best nations, the Southeast Asian nation showing off its formidable frigate RSS powerful.
An aerial flyover of 33 fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft also flew overhead, including the indigenously developed Kawasaki P-1 multirole patrol aircraft, while the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s ShinMaywa US-2 search and rescue amphibious aircraft displayed it The ability to stay aloft slowly and physically – thanks to its Boundary Layer Control technology, it is extremely fast and has a short take-off time over water.
“us [must be] Be prepared for those who break the rules and use force to trample on the peace and security of other nations. Improve Japan’s self-defense capabilities.
by Jr Ng
