Prepare for the Chinese threat! Close-up shot of the “co-operation” between Eurofighter (German Air Force) and F-15 (Air Self-Defense Force)!

Nippon Skies 24,” a joint training exercise between Hokkaido and Ibaraki

The international terminal of New Chitose Airport is lined with passenger aircraft bound for overseas destinations. In front of the parking area is the runway of the Air Self-Defense Force Chitose Air Base in Hokkaido. An Air Self-Defense Force F-15 fighter jet takes off in front of a passenger plane, making a roaring sound. An unfamiliar fighter jet followed in its wake. Painted on the fuselage is a black iron cross. It was the symbol of German nationality.

From July 22 to 25, Japan-Germany joint training exercise “Nippon Skies 24” was held in the airspace around Hokkaido. The German Air Force dispatched three Eurofighter EF-2000s, its main fighter aircraft, to participate in the training. They “fought” together with F-15s every day.

In fact, it was not only the German Air Force that visited Japan this time. From June to mid-August this year, the air forces of three countries, including the French and Spanish Aerospace Forces, are conducting a major expedition named “Pacific Skies 24,” which circles the globe in a westward direction. On July 19, French troops landed at Hyakuri Air Base (Ibaraki Prefecture) and German and Spanish troops landed at Chitose Air Base. The objective is to realize a “free and open Indo-Pacific.

It is well known that China has been accelerating its hegemonic maritime expansion, building airstrips and bases on atolls, and effectively controlling the South China Sea. In order to prevent this, the U.S. has deployed U.S. Navy vessels to the South China Sea as part of Operation Freedom of Navigation. The NATO countries have responded to this.

This is because some of the member nations, such as France and the United Kingdom, have territories in the Indo-Pacific region, and China’s moves, including the China-Taiwan issue, are also a threat to NATO.

Essential to Japan’s security is the Japan-U.S. alliance based on the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.

Apart from this, Japan also has “like-minded countries” as “comrades,” security partners on par with allies, and this time it is a “joint struggle” with like-minded countries.

In 2010, Germany deployed its first air force fighter jets to Japan. In January of this year, the German Army came to Japan and conducted training using helicopters together with the 1st Airborne Brigade of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

And now, for the first time, Japan and Germany conducted advanced training at the tactical level.

They took off together into the skies of Hokkaido and conducted formation flying training, flying side by side vertically and horizontally. They also flew out over the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan for air-to-air combat training. Although details have not been disclosed, it is believed that they conducted combat training assuming the presence of enemy aircraft and each other as enemies.

The SDF has rarely conducted joint training with other than its U.S. military allies. The Eurofighter dispatched this time is, as its name suggests, the standard aircraft in Europe. It has a maximum speed of Mach 2 and a range of approximately 2,900 km. It is capable of air-to-air, air-to-ship, and air-to-ground missions, and can also operate cruise missiles.

A major goal of the training was to obtain data for joint operations between the Eurofighter and SDF aircraft, which are likely to be deployed in the event of a contingency.

During the joint training, the Japanese side also provided logistical support, such as fuel to the Germans.

More and more like-minded countries are building security partnerships with Japan.

The same is true of the Asian superpower India.

Since the Japan-India joint training exercise “Dharma Guardian” was held in India by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and the Indian Army in 2006, the two countries have been “fighting together” almost every year, and the fourth joint exercise held last year was held in Japan. Last year, the fourth joint training exercise was held in Japan. About 40 soldiers dispatched by the Indian Army and members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force conducted various training exercises at the Urban Combat Training Area in the Aiba Training Area (Shiga Prefecture).

Many of the soldiers of the 5th Infantry Battalion who came to Japan at this time had served in the Kashmir conflict, and it was a valuable opportunity for the JSDF members to hear about their “real battle” experiences.

The British military has also deepened its ties with Japan as a comradely nation, and in 2009, the aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth made a port call at Yokosuka Air Base. In the Pacific Ocean, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands conducted joint training exercises to shake up China.

Japan is increasing the number of like-minded countries because the threat from China is right around the corner. And because they share this sense of crisis, Germany and the United Kingdom are also sending their military elite.

From the August 23 and 30 combined issue of “FRIDAY