Arab News Japan

TOKYO: As part of a 12-day joint military exercise involving more than 30,000 Japanese soldiers, the Space Defense Agency conducted a series of simulation exercises to observe space debris at a military base near Tokyo that houses Japan’s Air Defense Command Operations Center.

According to the Ministry of Defense, Japan is preparing for the new challenges of space defense and electronic warfare.

The Space Defense Squadron is working with Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the US Space Command on sharing sensor technology.

The exercise involved observing simulations to observe and detect space debris were. A unit officer added that it was necessary to locate the debris to ensure the protection of the country.

The Space Defense Agency, which is made up of around 20 soldiers, is responsible for observing any threat against Japanese satellites, whether it be falling debris or attacks from a hostile state.

Space Operation Squadron chief Ajiki Toshihide said in an interview with Arab News that the agency will grow in the next fiscal year to 170 members.

According to the White Paper on Defense of Japan published by the Ministry of Defense, Japan’s military budget totaled $52 billion for this fiscal year and part of it will be used to develop the Japan Aerospace Defense Ground Environment (JADGE).

Another official added that at the moment, the role of the agency is only to observe threats as the Japanese constitution does not allow offensive military actions.

On Nov. 15, Russia fired a missile that destroyed an old satellite threatening space security with falling debris that could damage other satellites. Japan strongly condemned the test in a statement released by the Foreign Ministry.