Japan Air Self-Defense Force Plans to Rename Itself "Aerospace Self-Defense Force"

Reference News Network, June 17 According to the Japan Economic News on June 14, the Japanese government plans to reorganize the Air Self-Defense Force into the "Aerospace Self-Defense Force" in the fiscal year 2026. This will be the first renaming since the establishment of the Ground Self-Defense Force, Maritime Self-Defense Force, and Air Self-Defense Force in 1954. The move aims to explicitly designate space as one of the operational domains of the Self-Defense Forces, thereby enhancing defense capabilities.

This is not just a change of name; it can be regarded as a pivotal event in the expansion of Japan's security concept.

The amendment to the Self-Defense Forces Law submitted to promote this organizational restructuring is currently under review in the National Diet. Once the bill is passed, the main operational domain of the force will expand to include space.

It is reported that the role of the space force is not to engage in direct combat with enemies in space. Its primary mission is to protect and maintain space infrastructure, such as the various systems behind smartphones and in-vehicle navigation systems, and to monitor any suspicious activities.

Currently, the force uses ground radar and other equipment deployed in Yamaguchi Prefecture and other locations to monitor space debris and the movements of suspicious satellites. By tracking the positions and orbits of satellites, they aim to quickly detect signs of dangerous close approaches or interference. Japan plans to launch a new space situational awareness satellite in the fiscal year 2026. This move aims to extend monitoring capabilities from the ground into space. More detailed observation means it will be easier to understand the intentions and capabilities of other satellites.

The Self-Defense Forces have previously established a small unit specifically responsible for space operations and are gradually expanding it. This unit began as the "Space Operations Team" established in 2020, which initially had about 20 personnel. In 2022, the "Space Operations Team" was reorganized into the "Space Operations Group," and in March 2026, it will further expand into the "Space Operations Regiment," increasing its personnel to 670. It is expected that in the fiscal year 2026, the unit will be upgraded to the "Space Operations Group" (tentative name), with personnel increasing to about 880.

In 2019, the U.S. military established the "Space Force," independent of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. At the same time, countries like Russia are reportedly developing "killer satellites" capable of attacking other countries' satellites using mechanical arms or similar technologies.

The commander of the Space Operations Regiment, Hiroyuki Ishii, believes that Japan cannot address this situation alone. He emphasized the necessity of cooperation with allies and the private sector. The U.S. Space Force has advanced capabilities in collecting, analyzing, and assessing satellite-related data, while Japan can play a supplementary role in military operations in the Indo-Pacific region. (Translation/ Liu Lin)