Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japan’s Ministry of Defense held the “Fuji Comprehensive Firepower Exercise 2024” – also known as the annual General Firepower Exercise – at the Higashi-Fuji Training Area near Mt. Fuji on Sunday in the presence of Defense Minister KIHARA Minoru, members of parliament, and American military personnel.

The drills involved tanks, artillery and aircraft loaded with live ammunition continuously entering and exiting the firing range to demonstrate their capabilities to the spectators.

The annual firing exercise, a testament to Japan’s defense capabilities, and a significant local defense calendar event, utilized approximately 48 tons of ammunition. It saw the participation of 53 tanks and mobile combat vehicles, 38 artillery pieces, and 12 aircraft, including the controversial Osprey. The demonstration was a display of powerful and precise shooting, showcasing “the efficiency and strength” of Japan’s defense forces within the confined space of the range, according to the Defense Ministry.   

The daytime exercise was divided into two parts. The first part demonstrated the performance and effects of various weapons and artillery used by the JGSDF. The second part featured a display of combined arms firepower in an assault on a fortified position.

The Ministry said this year exercise was not just a display of firepower, but a showcase of Japan’s innovative defense strategies. It incorporated new methods such as pop-up targets to simulate real combat conditions, providing a realistic training environment. This was done to educate participants quickly on firepower management based on commands from various levels of leadership. Wearable cameras were also used to convey the perspective and realism from the troops’ point of view, giving the audience a firsthand experience of the exercise. These innovative strategies demonstrate Japan’s commitment to staying at the forefront of military technology and tactics.

Night vision devices, illumination rounds and tracer rounds were used during the nighttime exercise held in the same day. When illumination rounds lit up the night sky, vehicles moving without headlights became visible. The first part of the nighttime exercise demonstrated various weapons and artillery firing characteristics under low-light conditions. The second part showed the procedures for coordinated firepower during nighttime defensive operations.

The drills also served as a training exercise for students from various Self-Defense Force schools. This year, about 5,200 personnel participated in the training. Additionally, around 3,000 invitees were present, including potential recruits, their parents and school officials.