The Meaning of Japan's New Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade Launch
The ARDB represents one of the most significant post-war reforms to the GSDF.
By John Taishu Pitt
March 29, 2018
https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/the-meaning-of-japans-new-amphibious-rapid-deployment-brigade-launch/ On March 27, 2018, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) underwent its most significant structural reform since its formation in 1954 with the creation of a unified command and the launch of an Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (ARDB) tasked with defending Japan’s remote islands. However, manufacturing delays and local opposition to stationing the V-22 Osprey will cause major setbacks to the new amphibious capability becoming operational.
Unlike the air and maritime services, the JGSDF has had no central headquarters to control its units. The JGSDF troops have been overseen by five regional armies operated under their respective commanding generals.
The move by the Ministry of Defense (MOD) will place the JGSDF unified command under the Ground Component Command in order to better respond to overarching regional threats to national security. Noting the lessons of power expansion by the Japanese Imperial Army, Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera asserted that civilian control over the military would be maintained appropriately “based on pre-war lessons.”
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The ARDB will be tasked with a landing operation to retake a territory when a foreign armed force occupies a Japanese island. It will be headquartered in the SDF’s Camp Ainoura in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, with the initial staffing level at 2,100 personnel. The Camp is known to focus on Japan’s South Western islands including the Senkaku Islands.
The brigade had planned to utilize vehicles such as the AAV7 and V-22 Osprey that are also used by the U.S. to transport personnel and supplies; however, reports have found that the MOD is facing some delays.
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