The GACC provides us a unique opportunity to exchange our views on airpower’s future and the challenges we may face. Sharing ideas and concerns certainly will help us overcome new challenges as well as create a foundation for international cooperation. I sincerely appreciate Gen Jumper`s leadership, and the diligent work of all staff made this conference possible.
Contents
First, I will talk about the development of airpower and Japan Air Self defense Force (JASDF). Second, I will talk about the emergence of new threats and dangers, and how this has led to calls for expanding roles for the JASDF. For my third point, I will try to clarify our commitment to creating a more stable security environment by explaining diversifying missions and activities of the JASDF. For my fourth and final point, I will share our views on future challenges. It is my hope that this will help provide a catalyst for further discussions during this conference.
Airpower development
Since its emergence, airpower has rapidly developed from an experimental instrument to an essential core element of military power. Airpower is now indispensable to national power and one of the most useful tools for national security. Soon after the Wright brother’s first flight, the airplane was used for a military purpose?very primitive observation in the 1911 Turkey-Italian War
In WW I, airpower was used to a very limited degree. The twenty year interwar period seems to have been the most important period for development of airpower. Airpower advocates, such as Douhet and Mitchell, foresaw the possibilities of airpower’s future and provided comprehensive concepts of airpower employment. Although introduced in WW I, it was in World War II that the effectiveness of airpower as a decisive power in warfare was proven. As the German Blitzkrieg and strategic bombardment, showed that airpower’s possibility in warfare, the limits of airpower were also being revealed.
In the post WW II era, strategic airpower tended to be emphasized but it gradually became difficult to draw the line between strategic and tactical air. Features of Airpower
Development of airpower in the last decade has been very rapid. It may seem as if airpower alone can win a war as Douhet envisioned, but the reality is as Mitchell thought, cooperation among other services is necessary. Features and possibilities of airpower have become explicit. Advantages of airpower as well as inherent weaknesses are as you know. But regardless of airpower’s weaknesses, experience in modern warfare, including Operation Iraqi Freedom, continues to reconfirm that air superiority provided by airpower is a prerequisite for successful military operations now and in the future.
Development of JASDF as a unique but capable airpower
Airpower development in Japan has a clear distinction between what occurred prior to and what occurred after WW II. Prior to WWII, Japanese air power developed as early as it did in Europe, but its role was limited within the Imperial Army and Navy.
Brief History of airpower in Japan
After 1910, when Capt.Tokugawa made the first Japanese flight with a French aircraft, Japanese airpower continued to develop separately with different doctrine. It was not as effective as it could and should have been. After deactivation of the Japanese military, the Japan defense void was filled by US occupation forces. The 5th Air Force took charge of air defense until the Japan Air Self Defense Force was established in 1954. The establishment of the U.S. Air Force as an independent service influenced JASDF’s establishment as well as subsequent JASDF development. The JASDF began its history with 150 aircraft and 6000 personnel. Most aircraft and equipment were handed over from the Far East Air Force, and JASDF airmen were trained under US airmen. At present, the JASDF has developed a corps of professional airmen and integrated them into an effective defensive airpower force with an inventory of more than 400 aircraft?including F-15s, F-2s, and F-4s, and nearly 50,000 airmen.
Basic Defense Policies of Japan
Generally speaking, airpower forces are organized and trained based on a nation’s air strategy as well as doctrine that has stemmed from various elements such as geographic features, national power, and security policies. Japan’s basic defense policies are founded on three pillars: The Japanese Constitution, the United Nations Charter, and the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. Japan’s other basic defense policies are derived from these three pillars. These policies reflect development of The JASDF as a unique airpower force primarily for the mission of DCA on and around Japanese territory.
Geographic Features of Japan
In addition, Japan’s geostrategic features have also had an influence on Japan’s air strategy and doctrine. As a result, Japan’s airpower has been shaped as it is today.
Organization of JASDF
The Japan Air Self Defense Force, with its primary mission of air defense, consists of five functional major commands? Air Defense Command, Air Support Command, Air Training Command, Air Development and Test Command, Air Materiel Command? and several other supporting units.
Force Structure
Air Defense Command is the primary JASDF organization for air defense. Its force structure consists of fighter interceptor units, surface-to-air missile units, and aircraft control and warning units that reflect an air defense focus.
Japan-U.S. Bilateral cooperation
Because the U.S.-Japan security alliance is an important linchpin of peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region, as well as for the defense of Japan, bilateral cooperation at various levels is also very important. In particular,our US/Japanese military to military relationship is a very critical part of this cooperation. We regularly conduct bilateral exercises with the U.S. Air Force, and I consider these exercises as beneficial for improving the tactical skills of both the JASDF and the U.S. Air Force. Examples of some of these major Field Training Exercises are COPE ANGEL, COPE NORTH, and COPE THUNDER.
New Security Threats and Roles of Airpower
Characteristics of the security environment we will face in the future might be generally expressed as unpredictable and uncertain. For while the effort for multilateral cooperation has been continuing, threats and dangers with which we have to deal are expanding in terms of actors, measures and phases. These include international terrorism, regional instability caused by failed states, and the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. Considering these threats and dangers under the current security environment, emphasis of security strategy seems to be shifting from deterrence/defense to prevention / dissuasion.
JASDF’s operations to meet the diversifying roles
As roles and missions of the military have expanded, and will continue to expand, airpower, as a significant part of the one of instruments of national power, should assume appropriate roles and missions with full recognition of the advantages as well as the limitations of airpower. As for the JASDF, roles and missions will likely continue to expand as the security environment continues to be shaped by threats and new opportunities to use airpower in lethal and non-lethal roles.
Diversifying Missions and Activities of JASDF
Realizing the changes in the international security environment in the post Cold War era, the National Defense Program Outline (NDPO) was modified in 1996. What is most important about the NDPO is that it defined relatively new roles for the Self Defense Forces, which, in addition to the defense of Japan, include response to large-scale disasters and various other situations, and contributions for the creation of a more stable security environment. The NDPO set a new direction for national security in the post Cold War era along with an increase in the public expectation for Self Defense Forces to contribute to world peace and stability.
Contribution to create a more stable security environment
Starting with the International Peace Cooperation Law?the “so called” PKO law?new legal frameworks are being formed step-by-step that enable the Japan Self Defense Forces to engage in various types of international cooperation activities. The PKO law enacted in 1992 was a historical first step for Japan to assume an active role in maintaining peace and stability in the region. It consists of two missions: Peace Keeping Operations (PKO) and International Humanitarian Relief Operations. Another recent legislative effort affecting the SDF mission is the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law which was enacted in 2001 as a response to the September 11th. Japan regards international terrorism not only as a security threat against international society, but also as a security threat against Japan.
Peace Keeping Operations: PKO
Based on these legislations, the JASDF is actively involved in those operations, particularly through airlift support activities. The primary purpose of involvement in PKO and International Humanitarian Relief Operations(IHRO) is to maintain and promote peace and stability of the international community. JASDF engaged in PKO missions in Cambodia, Mozambique, the Golan Heights and East Timor by providing C-130 airlift support.
International Humanitarian Relief Operations: IHRO
In October 2001,the JASDF airlifted relief goods to Afghan refugees under PKO laws before the Anti-Terror Special Measures law was enacted. In another relief operation this past March, JASDF B747s, for the first time ever in this role, transported relief goods to provide assistance to Iraqi refugees.
International Disaster Relief Activities: IDRA
In October and November 1998, at the request of the Honduran government, the JASDF airlifted medical equipment to Honduras to help people recover from suffering by Hurricane Mitch. In January 2001, when India suffered a huge earthquake, the JASDF again provided relief materials and goods through airlift operations.
Cooperation and Support activities based on the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law
In response to the terrorist attacks of the September 11th, the Government of Japan took very quick and comprehensive measures to join the fight against terrorism. Shortly thereafter, the enactment of the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law enabled the Japan Self Defense Forces to provide logistic support as well as search and rescue assistance for international cooperation activities. In support of U.S. Forces' efforts to eradicate terrorism in Asia, the JASDF began Operation Freedom Lift", to support to U.S. Forces.
JASDF’s Activities after the 9.11
As part of International humanitarian relief operations, JASDF C-130s transported goods to Afghan refugees. In yet another step to address the threat of international terrorism, the JASDF strengthened Air Surveillance and Early Warning and provided necessary information to the institution concerned. Even during the 2002 World Soccer Games last year, JASDF cooperated with domestic police forces as well as the Korean Air Force through exchanging necessary information.
Future Challenges
As the JASDF has recently journeyed the road of mission diversification, we have faced many challenges and issues. We realize there are yet more challenges we will face in the road ahead. JASDF’s perspective regarding these challenges and issues will, I believe, be beneficial and insightful to all participants of GACC. Simply said, we see that the challenge is how to balance mutually exclusive concepts, namely traditional and non-traditional concepts, in the security arena. The balance between those concepts will certainly reflect airpower doctrine, operation and training, and force development. Furthermore, revolutionary changes in military affairs, based on advancement of information technology, seem to make our challenges even more complicated. I offer the following ideas as points for us to consider.
War Fighting vs OOTW
Due to the full spectrum of threats and dangers we have to deal with, we have difficulty balancing war fighting and operations other than war. The fundamental nature of military power with its potential for violence may never change, but military power today also has the potential, and indeed has been used, as a probative constructive force with a stabilizing effect in peace making, peace building, and peace keeping operations.
Inter-state vs. Intra-state
In the traditional sense, national security was intended to defend a nation from outside threats. However, current security threats and issues often begin within a state and spill over into neighboring countries causing regional instability. It is difficult to know where to draw the line on “non-intervention” in another nation’s affairs. Furthermore, international terrorism and the proliferation of WMD are threats that no single nation can deal with alone. International cooperation is absolutely essential.
Bilateral (Alliance) vs Multilateral (U.N. etc)
Because of the limited security role the U.N. has played, military alliances have been a basis for national security. In the Asia-Pacific region, bilateral military alliances centered around the U.S. have been a cornerstone of peace and stability of the region while a multi-lateral security framework, such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), is being sought. Alliance and multi-lateral cooperation seems to co-exist as a multi-layered security policy but there is always a big debate about which should take the leadership role.
Joint/combined operation (military) vs. inter-agency cooperation (non-military))
Evidence continues to show that joint operations in future military operations will, by necessity, be the norm. There are, however, fundamental differences in each service in differing environments so that to what extent jointness should be pursued is a big question. On the other hand, to deal with new threats and dangers, inter-agency cooperation is absolutely necessary. While inter-agency cooperation provides a broader range of options, but also brings with it new challenges of the military working with non-military organizations.
Conclusion
It is always a difficult task for the military profession to estimate the next war and be ready for it. We who develop and lead airpower can share ideas and concerns to better accomplish our mission, which is to exploit the 3rd dimension in order to maintain the peace and security of our nations, and to protect our people’s lives and prosperity. With half a century of history, the JASDF has developed a unique but sufficient airpower for the air defense of Japan. Without the USAF’s official as well as its unofficial support, it’s hard to imagine how today’s JASDF might have evolved. There still is room for JASDF to become more efficient and effective for dealing with new threats and dangers. The JASDF will continue to focus on these goals: to maintain high quality air defense capabilities sufficient enough to deter and, if necessary, destroy aerospace threats; to develop and maintain capabilities to appropriately respond to newly emerging threats and dangers; and to actively engage in multi-lateral cooperation activities for peace and stability.
I have enjoyed having this opportunity to speak to you today. I sincerely hope that this GACC forum and other USAF/JASDF engagement will continue to enhance cooperation and understanding among all of us, and that we will also continue to be able to work hand-in-hand to successfully confront the new world environment that faces all of us. Thank you.
