The elite of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force were active in “Super Garuda Shield,” the largest military exercise in Asia!

Roar of the Hymers

Hidden in the bushes, the “Hymers,” a high-mobility rocket artillery system, is a six-wheeled military truck loaded with a rocket launcher that travels at a maximum speed of 85 km/h. When the U.S. military provided these weapons to the Ukrainian military in June 2010, they were used in the Donbass offensive and other battles to quickly overrun Russian ground forces. The U.S. military provided the weapon to the Ukrainian military in June 2010. It was the catalyst for the successful reversal of the offensive.

As soon as the Hymers’ launchers were lifted and angled, a roar sounded, and with a red flame, rockets were ejected one after another.

This time, with the faint sound of engines, U.S. and Indonesian military personnel carriers and Ground Self-Defense Force high-mobility vehicles moved forward one after another. The Ground Self-Defense Force vehicles were manned by members of the Amphibious Task Force, Japan’s version of the Marine Corps. After advancing several hundred meters, they dismounted and deployed, setting up a 120mm mortar RT. Without a moment’s pause, they fired one after another. They provided firepower support to the units of each country fighting on the front lines.

From August 26 to September 6, the multilateral military exercise “Super Garuda Shield 24” was conducted at various bases and training grounds on the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. Twenty-two countries participated, including Indonesia and the United States, the host countries.’ It began as a bilateral exercise in 2007 and is now the largest military exercise in Asia. The scene at the beginning of this article is from the “CALFEX” multilateral live fire exercise, which was the climax of the exercise.

Australia, India, and South Korea are also concerned about a Taiwan contingency

The main objective in mind is the operation to retake the islands from the enemy. The objective is to build a military partnership with the Indo-Pacific region by improving multilateral joint operational capabilities and tactical skills.

Until now, the JSDF has had few opportunities to train and interact with forces other than its U.S. military ally. Recently, with the increased risk of a Taiwan contingency, we have decided to conduct joint training with Indonesia, Australia, and other countries that feel threatened by Chinese hegemony,” said a senior Ground Self-Defense Force official.

The 1st Airborne Brigade, the pride of the Ground Self-Defense Force, also participated in the exercise. The 1st Airborne Brigade, the pride of the Ground Self-Defense Force, also participated in the exercise and carried out an airborne operation, which was a great success. South Korea and India are also scheduled to send troops to the next exercise.

The creation of a new framework for cooperation will have to wait.

From the October 11, 2024 issue of FRIDAY