Russian military Pacific Fleet marines have received new T-80BV tanks as part of Russia's Rearmament Plan of the Pacific Fleet Costal Troops programme, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced on 6 December.
The tanks were received in the Kamchatka region, where personnel have already undergone training on the vehicles. Live-fire exercises for the new vehicles are currently underway at the Radygino training ground.
The tanks have been upgraded wth new Relikt reactive armour protection in place of the obsolete Kontakt-1. The engine compartment and the rear of the turret have been improved with slat armour protection. The tank is equipped with the new Sosna-U sight.
It's an interesting development. I think there is some difficulty in posting updates on Russian activities in the Far East and Pacific region. Some update posts went into the "China's Peaceful Rise" thread and some have went into the "Cold War, the reimagined series". And now one here
So there is some disorganization about this. I think the Cold War thread is most appropriate but China's rise is OK now given the creation of new Chinese military equipment related threads to keep things better organized. So then the China's rise thread can morph into a China and Russia activity thread. But might be nice to give it a new title by making a new thread. But regardless of that, I really would like to keep this thread clean with only joint activities within the US-led group
Jason thanks for your good posts on an area of the world I don't pay much attention too. IMO, I believe China wants a large military for prestige. It cannot win a physical invasion and especially physically occupy any of its neighboring countries except at great cost. From my limited knowledge, China is not scoring points on the diplomatic front and is causing some countries around China to increase their military budgets. That leaves economic leverage, which for now China seems to be good at. What the future holds though,...?
Jason thanks for your good posts on an area of the world I don't pay much attention too. IMO, I believe China wants a large military for prestige. It cannot win a physical invasion and especially physically occupy any of its neighboring countries except at great cost. From my limited knowledge, China is not scoring points on the diplomatic front and is causing some countries around China to increase their military budgets. That leaves economic leverage, which for now China seems to be good at. What the future holds though,...?
I think prestige is a factor but I think there is more to China's growing military capacity. They have not reached their full potential yet. They are playing the long term game. They will use military force to intimidate surrounding countries to bend towards China's strategic interest of expanding a China dominated sphere beyond the Chinese mainland coast. I think that because of the construction of the very large military bases in the South China Sea, which one of the very large baes is within the EEZ of the Philippines, thus not only expanding military presence far beyond China's mainland coastline but also grossly violating UNCLOS. I think that because of Chinese coast guard ships going as far as Malaysia waters to do patrols. I think that because of Duterte leading the Philippines to strike a compromise position in foreign relations and economics between the US and Japan on one side and China on the other side in order to placate China so that China doesn't begin island land reclamation at Scarborough shoal. I think that because of China's never ending threats towards Taiwan when China really has no legitimate claim on Taiwan if taking honest history and common sense into account, threats that include a BM attack of 1,000 missiles, a developing amphibious capabilities with actual assault on Taiwan in mind, and having constructed mock buildings including the Taiwanese capital building and conducting training on its capture in the mock city. I think that because of illegitimate claim that China puts on Japan's Senkaku islands and how they send Coast Guard ships to sail within the territorial waters of those islands at a rate of about 33 times a year. And I think that because of the increasing number of times Chinese military aircraft fly through the Japanese islands around Okinawa on training and such and passing around and encircling Taiwan. These flight missions have grown in frequency and degree of sophistication. I could back up all these points with pictures and and such but that would take me a long time but they all have been posted among several threads. But thanks for your giving thanks again.
I'll put up one that shows the number of times Japan has scrambled fighters in response to approaching Chinese aircraft. Last year, Japan scrambled fighters more than it has ever done, including any time during the cold war, roughly three times a day on average. Because of the rapid raise in the number of times that call for a scramble, Japan in early 2016 doubled the number of 15Js stationed in Naha, Okinawa in order to keep up, going from 20 aircraft to 40 aircraft. If Japan did not respond to such an increase of Chinese aircraft flying nearby, the danger would be a slow and passive transition and a new norm of acceptance the that airspace belongs to China's area of influence and consequentially, from the basis of that new norm, diplomatic negotiations and business activities would slowly realign to the new norm, effectively conceding areas to the influence of China. If there is a moral argument to let that happen, I haven't heard one yet. Outright appeasement is what it would be. So if China wants to compete to try and transition areas of influence to themselves, I see nothing wrong in competing to prevent that and an glad that Japan is stepping up rather then kow-towing. But it is more than just about provoking Japan to scramble, it is about developing a Chinese military presence. If the force level of that Chinese presence continues to raise, then it'll challenge the strength of the US and Japanese presence based in Okinawa. If the balance of power around Okinawa tips to China, it can cause a change in the strategic situation for many things. Not only to Okinawa, but also the ability for the US and Japan to help defend Taiwan or US capacity in maintaining a relevant force connected to ROK. Or at least I think so.
Anyway to the data, the number of scrambles for each year. So in 2016, Japan scrambled fighters over 1100 times, easily beating the previous record in 1984. I edited in the years.
Here is the break down as to whose aircraft the scrambles were in response to. Translations are mine. Very high number of Russia related scrambles in 2014. That was in response to Japan's support for the sanctions over the Ukraine, so Russia jacked up flights coming near Japanese airspace as a response. Still out done by the Chinese in 2016 though.
Here is a map image showing the paths of the various flights that caused a scramble in 2016. I edited in the names of Senkaku and Okinawa and their location on the map. Red paths are China's and orange paths are Russia's.
Here is the document about the srambles where these images are coming from.
Here is a JASDF video with a part on the scrambles starting at 4:51, well the first part near the beginning of the video is about radars and detection that enable scrambles. It was made in June 2016, but in some ways already kind of old considering the even greater increase of scrambles by the end of 2016 (scrmable report is in fiscal years as in April-Mar)
Here are more reports on individual Chinese military flight formations that not just come near Japanese airspace and provoking a scramble but pass through the Okinawan islands and enter the wider Pacific Ocean.
It would also be worth noting that Japan is developing defense on other islands near Okinawa to strengthen the overall area and to better safe guard the Senkaku islands.
Russian military Pacific Fleet marines have received new T-80BV tanks as part of Russia's Rearmament Plan of the Pacific Fleet Costal Troops programme, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced on 6 December.
The tanks were received in the Kamchatka region, where personnel have already undergone training on the vehicles. Live-fire exercises for the new vehicles are currently underway at the Radygino training ground.
The tanks have been upgraded wth new Relikt reactive armour protection in place of the obsolete Kontakt-1. The engine compartment and the rear of the turret have been improved with slat armour protection. The tank is equipped with the new Sosna-U sight.
It's an interesting development. I think there is some difficulty in posting updates on Russian activities in the Far East and Pacific region. Some update posts went into the "China's Peaceful Rise" thread and some have went into the "Cold War, the reimagined series". And now one here
So there is some disorganization about this. I think the Cold War thread is most appropriate but China's rise is OK now given the creation of new Chinese military equipment related threads to keep things better organized. So then the China's rise thread can morph into a China and Russia activity thread. But might be nice to give it a new title by making a new thread. But regardless of that, I really would like to keep this thread clean with only joint activities within the US-led group
It appears to me that it is China does not have any allies such as the U.S. has in this area. Is this correct?
Pretty much. At various levels, there are a few countries that are more or less are geopolitically aligned with a China and thus generally geopolitically against the US. Most notable is Russia. Others are Pakistan, Cambodia, Laos, and maybe a few others like perhaps South Africa recently. North Korea has traditionally been one too, I would say still is, but it's just that right now, the US is applying lots of pressure on China to apply pressure DPRK.
Another batch of countries would be more or less balancing the US and China against each other such as Singapore, Malaysia, and recently, Thailand.
With that dynamic in mind, there's been a notable adjustment of a step away from the US and a step towards China within both the Philippines and ROK, but both those countries are still, basically put, in the US camp.
Some steps going closer to the US recently were in Vietnam and Taiwan.
Japan has it's own tugs that are not similar to what the US can draw in a few cases. While the US is still like much in the Philippines, Japan saw a major increase there. AFAIK, Japan does better as far as sentiment goes in Vietnam and Indonesia than the US as well, but of course, putting aside sentiment, the US offers things (raw power) that Japan can't. And Japan does poorly in ROK overall.
It's all quite fluid. Some changes could be just short term temporary adjustments for geopolitical maneuvering such as the recent small dip for the US and the some gains for China in the Philippines. Once the Philippines develops it's economy and gets nicer military kit, they'll be able to stand up against China better. But that is a future scenerio. Who knows, if the US and Japan don't play their cards well, China may actually make more sense to partner with.
Disappointing, but not unexpected, to see that the vast majority of interceptions of Chinese aircraft are occurring over Senkaku, which Beijing and the Nationalist Chinese/Taiwanese claim jointly.
I would like to see the number of sorties definable as air defense intercepts by Beijing against Japanese and U.S. aircraft over the same area, for context.
I saw those pictures a little while ago and were nice pictures to see and certainly don't mind seeing them again
MoD has one of those typical style reports for the training. It was carried out on December 1st in the western part of the Gulf of Aden and involved two JMSDF P-3Cs and one P-3C from the German Navy. The stated aim of the training was to improve the JMSDF tactical skills in countermeasures to piracy and to strengthen cooperation with and to deepen mutual understanding with the EU (German Navy).
JMSDF and the Canadian Navy conducted joint training in anti-submarine warfare, etc., in the waters south of Honshu island on December 19th. From Canada was HMCS Chicoutimi, and noted as additional information, it's the same sub that came to visit Yokosuka on October 18th and trained with both the US and Japan, perhaps in this exercise. From the JMSDF were JS Izumo, JS Murasame, JS Ikazuchi, JS Hatakaze, and one P-1.
The U.S. anti-missile station Aegis Ashore is pictured at the military base in Deveselu, Romania, on May 12, 2016. (Daniel Mihailescu/AFP via Getty Images)
TOKYO — Japan’s Cabinet on Tuesday approved a plan to purchase a set of costly land-based U.S. missile combat systems to increase the country’s defense capabilities amid escalating threats from North Korea.
The approval will allow the Defense Ministry to buy two Aegis Ashore systems to add to Japan’s current two-step missile defense consisting of Patriot batteries and Aegis-equipped destroyers.
“North Korea’s nuclear and missile development has become a greater and more imminent threat for Japan’s national security, and we need to drastically improve our ballistic missile defense capability to protect Japan continuously and sustainably,” a statement issued by the Cabinet said.
The deployment will add to growing defense costs in Japan as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government pushes to allow the military a greater international role and boost its missile combat capability.
Defense officials say two Aegis Ashore units can cover Japan entirely by using advanced missile interceptors such as the SM-3 Block IIA, which was jointly developed by Japan and the U.S. and would cost about 200 billion yen (U.S. $1.8 billion), though they have not released exact figures.
Officials say they hope the systems are ready for operation by 2023.
Officials refused to disclose cost details until a planned release of a 2018 budget, in which defense spending is expected to rise to a record.
Abe has said he fully backs U.S. President Donald Trump’s policy of keeping all options on the table, including possible military actions, against North Korea. Abe has vowed to bolster Japan’s security cooperation and increase the use of advanced U.S. missile defense equipment.
Defense officials declined to give details about potential sites for Aegis Ashore deployment, while Japanese reports cited Self-Defense Force bases in Akita, northern Japan, and Yamaguchi, in southwestern Japan.
Defense officials said they chose Aegis Ashore over an option of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, because of its cheaper cost and versatility. Typically, a THAAD setup comes with 48 missiles and nine mobile launch pads, priced about $1.1 billion, and Japan would need at least six of those to defend the country, officials said.
The deployment of THAAD in South Korea triggered protests from China, as Beijing considers it a security threat.
Aegis Ashore can be compatible with the ship-based Aegis systems that are on four Japanese destroyers and also could work with SM-6 interceptors capable of shooting down cruise missiles, defense officials said. Japan plans to add four more Aegis-equipped destroyers in the coming years.
The U.S. has installed the land-fixed Aegis in Romania and Poland, and Japan will be a third to host the system.
A bit on BMD missile procurement in the 2018 defense budget requests from both the US and Japan, the US's is requesting about 1.6 billion USD for 34 SM3 Blk1B and 6 SM3 Blk2A along with some integration costs and BMD system development (page 4-2). Japan's is asking for about 570 million USD (about 65 billion yen) to procure both SM3 Blk1B and Blk2A although it doesn't say how many for each (page 13).
Japan and Australia working on a "Visiting Forces Agreement". Conclusion and implementation aimed by end of 2019. Seems likely to be followed by a VFA between Japan and the UK.
Spoiler
Tokyo: Japan and Australia are close to agreeing a visiting forces agreement (VFA), which would foster smooth military operations between the two countries, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull plans to visit Japan and hold talks with his counterpart Shinzo Abe to confirm the agreement ny mid-January, according to sources close to both governments.
With an eye to starting talks on a similar pact with Britain by the end of 2018, Tokyo intends to deepen international security cooperation through multiple avenues by strengthening coordination with "quasi-allies" – in addition to the United States – should circumstances on the Korean Peninsula and in the East and South China seas grow more severe.
A VFA comprehensively stipulates the legal status of foreign forces engaged in temporary activities, such as joint exercises and disaster-relief missions, in a nation's territory.
The broad agreement with Canberra would be Tokyo's first-ever VFA accord, though it has concluded a status of forces agreement with the United States premised on the long-term presence of its ally's forces in Japan.
In the talks between Japan and Australia, which began in 2014, the two governments agreed to implement such measures as simplifying procedures when Japan's Self-Defence Force (SDF) or the Australian military temporarily stay in either country for joint exercises and other missions, by exempting customs on carried items and granting permission to bring arms and ammunition.
In cases where relevant parties including defense forces personnel commit crimes in either country, the law of the country in which the crime was committed, in principle, will take priority. Tokyo and Canberra will continue talks on such cases, as additional time is necessary to clarify details on exceptions and the specific scope of the rules, among other issues.
The two governments aim to officially reach an agreement on the VFA and begin implementation by the end of 2019.
Behind Tokyo's effort to develop VFAs lies its recent focus on conducting joint drills between the SDF and foreign forces.
In 2015, the Ground Self-Defence Force participated in US-Australia joint exercises for the first time. The Air Self-Defence Force also plans to hold its first joint drill with the Royal Australian Air Force in Japan next year.
In the meantime, Japan and Britain agreed to aim to conduct joint drills on a regular basis at so-called two-plus-two talks between their foreign and defense ministers on December 14. They are pursuing a conclusion to the VFA with an aim to expand the drills.
A VFA is expected to have the effect of "demonstrating a bilateral relationship of trust both within and outside" the two countries, according to a senior official at the Defense Ministry.
Tokyo intends to expand its security cooperation network based on Abe's "free and open Indo-Pacific strategy" in a bid to strengthen deterrence against North Korea and to warn against China's maritime advances.
USS Carl Vinson CSG heading back to the Western Pacific.
Spoiler
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group departed the West Coast yesterday and today for a deployment to the Western Pacific, with this being the strike group’s second consecutive WESTPAC deployment under U.S. 3rd Fleet command.
The Navy began a 3rd Fleet Forward deployment concept in 2016, where the ships would remain under 3rd Fleet command and control during the entire deployment instead of switching to U.S. 7th Fleet command after crossing the international dateline. The idea was to allow 7th Fleet to focus on ships in the Forward Deployed Naval Forces in Japan – with a particular eye on potential missions near the Korean Peninsula – while 3rd Fleet controlled partnership-building exercises, humanitarian assistance missions and other missions elsewhere in the Pacific.
Carl Vinson CSG departed for its first Third Fleet Forward deployment exactly one year ago, on Jan. 5, 2017. The strike group’s deployment was extended by about 30 days and the strike group was rerouted to provide presence and deterrence off the Korean Peninsula. Carl Vinson CSG participated in the first dual-carrier exercise off the Korean Peninsula since the late 1990s, alongside the Japan-based Ronald Reagan CSG, before returning home to regroup and prepare for this next deployment.
This week, more than 6,000 sailors assigned to the CSG departed for a second 3rd Fleet Forward deployment.
“I look forward to the strike group further demonstrating 3rd Fleet’s evolving operational role across the Indo-Pacific region,” CSG commander Rear Adm. John Fuller said in a Navy news release.
“We are trained and ready to execute our mission.”
The strike group includes carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70); Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2; guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57); and guided-missile destroyers USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112) from Destroyer Squadron 1. Michael Murphy is homeported in Hawaii and will join the strike group when it stops at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
Carrier Air Wing 2 incudes more than 70 aircraft from the “Black Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 4, the “Blue Hawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM 78), the “Bounty Hunters” of Strike Fighter Squadrons (VFA) 2, the “Blue Blasters” of VFA-34, the “Kestrels” of VFA-137, the “Golden Dragons” of VFA-192, the “Black Eagles” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 113, the “Gauntlets” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136, and the “Providers” of Fleet Logistic Support Squadron (VRC) 30 Det. 2.
January 2018 Parachute dropping exercise held on January 12th had many more Americans participating in the parachute dropping than last year's exercise.
0:00 Combat exercise explanation and preparation. Red team vs Blue team.
7:00 Combat exercise starts.
37:35 Blue team captures objective, combat exercise ends.
38:35 single parachute drop test and parachute release presentation.
45:23 Defense Minister Onodera arrives via gov helicopter.
55:05 Ranking office parachute drop. US command officer (Alaska and US in Japan) drop at 1:03:25
1:05:45 More US officers and US paratrooper load up.
1:08:18 Onodera again but getting off a CH-47 at a different location.
1:11:05 Training exercise explanation
1:12:02 Parachute drop exercise begins. American military (米軍) drops at 1:15:30, 1:19:23, 1:23:18, 1:27:13, and 1:31:21.
1:45:20 physical combat demonstration. Ends at 1:51:05.
1:52:10 JGSDF 1st Airborne free parachute drop.
1:56:14 US forces in Japan free parachute drop.
2:01:40 Helicopter formation flight of each heli type.
While visiting Japan, Turnbull visits a Japanese military base with Abe, emphasizing defense cooperation. Australian jets to visit for bilateral training this year.
Spoiler
Australian and Japanese fighter jets will be involved in carrying out bilateral military exercises for the first time this year, according to a joint statement between the two countries released on Thursday.
“The two leaders directed their respective ministers of defence to pursue even deeper and broader defence co-operation in 2018, including exercises, operations, capacity building, navy, army and Air Force visits, and further co-operation on defence equipment,” the two leaders said in the statement.
The exercises, to be held between the Japanese Air Self-Defence Force and the Royal Australian Air Force in Japan later this year, come amid China’s increasingly aggressive defence posture in Asia and continuing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
After a warning from Australia’s international development Minister Concetta Ferevanti-Wells on China’s growing influence on Pacific nations, Mr Abe and Mr Turnbull pledged to step up “bilateral co-ordination” in the region, and increasingly help other countries to effectively carry out maritime law enforcement.
The statement, released after a bilateral meeting between the two leaders, said a Ministerial Economic Dialogue would be set up between the two country’s trade ministers.
INS Teg, one Indian sub, and JS Amagiri conducted joint-training in anti-submarine warfare and tactical maneuvers in the waters around Mumbai port on January 18th.