With an aim of strengthening its capability to transport military units to the Nansei Islands, the government plans to introduce in fiscal 2023 medium- and small-size transport ships operated by newly commissioned joint maritime transport units (see below) between the Ground and the Maritime Self-Defense Forces. The government also plans to utilize artificial intelligence to quickly determine what ammunition and other supplies must be transported to remote islands.
Multiple government sources unveiled the plan to The Yomiuri Shimbun.
The National Defense Program Guidelines adopted by the Cabinet in December stipulate that "to enable swift and large-scale transport, SDF will strengthen joint transport capabilities including inter- and intra-theater transport capabilities tailored to the characteristics of remote island areas."
The Defense Ministry has begun studying the number of transport ships, their operational policies and other specifics.
During the period of the Medium Term Defense Program from fiscal 2019 to fiscal 2023, a 2,000-ton class medium-size transport ship and two 300-ton class small transport ships will be introduced. It will be the first time for the SDF to introduce such a medium-size ship.
In remote islands such as the Nansei Islands, there are few ports where large MSDF transport ships can dock. SDF aims to enhance supply capabilities by introducing these small and medium-size ships.
The envisaged medium-size ships could carry about 15 tanks each, whereas the small ships can load about five tanks each. The SDF will eventually procure two medium-size ships and six small ships under the plan.
One emerging idea is that those ships would be operated by the joint maritime transport units and stationed at MSDF Kure base in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture. In the event of a contingency on the Nansei Islands, the government is considering transporting ammunition from the Oita Ammo Branch Depot in Oita and personnel from the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade at the GSDF's Ainoura camp in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, whose mission is to recapture the remote islands.
In order to strengthen the defense of the Nansei Islands, the government established the GSDF Coast Observation Unit on Yonagunijima island, Okinawa Prefecture, the westernmost island in the nation, in March 2016. The government also plans to station GSDF missile units on the two islands of Miyakojima and Ishigakijima, Okinawa Prefecture, as well as on Amami Oshima island, Kagoshima Prefecture.
In the event of an emergency, the command must immediately determine the amount of supplies needed by such units deployed on remote islands and procure them. The Defense Ministry is therefore considering building a system that would use AI to instantly identify shortages of supplies and personnel. The government hopes to test the system in joint exercises with the United States before introducing it on a full scale.
-- Maritime transport units:
A joint unit of the Ground and Maritime Self-Defense Forces whose mission is to quickly mobilize and deploy SDF units. The Medium Term Defense Program, adopted in December last year, stipulated the establishment of such a system to strengthen remote island defense capabilities. Since the GSDF has no experience in operating ships, the MSDF will conduct training. This is expected to strengthen the integration of land and sea capabilities.
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