By Sun Wenzhu
The Japanese government announced recently that it would rename the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) as the "Air and Space Self-Defense Force," elevate and expand the existing "Space Operations Group" into the "Space Operations Command," and invest heavily in purchasing various new types of missiles. All the developments indicate that the JASDF attempts to build a combat force that is capable of operations both offensive and defensive, and both in air and space, as well as competent to undertake joint operations with its allies and partners, which will pose a serious challenge to regional and even global security.
Japan has accelerated the acquisition of advanced combat aircraft and other offensive equipment to upgrade its long-range operational capabilities.
Since 2019, the JASDF has acquired the Joint Strike Missile (JSM) with a maximum range exceeding 500 kilometers and the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile - Extended Range (JASSM-ER) with a range exceeding 800 kilometers from Norway and the US to be employed by its combat aircraft. It has also vigorously promoted the indigenous development of the improved Type 12 air-based anti-ship missile with a range of about 1,000 kilometers. Moreover, Japan plans to purchase 147 F-35 fighters from the US, with 40 of them already delivered. The JASDF plans to add intelligent ammunition pallets to enable the domestically produced C-2 transport aircraft to carry multiple air-launched cruise missiles, thereby achieving, in essence, long-range strike capabilities comparable to those of bombers.
Japan has strengthened its offensive operational capabilities through real-combat training and exercises.
In September 2025, the JASDF undertook its overseas deployment mission codenamed "Atlantic Eagles" for the first time. It dispatched a mixed taskforce composed of four F-15Js, two tankers and two transport aircraft to several countries in Europe and America, demonstrating its long-range military power projection capabilities. The JASDF also incorporated the operation of striking adversary warships with missiles in its tactical training mission scenario.
Japan has promoted interoperability among the alliance to develop its joint operational capabilities.
In recent years, the JASDF has been focusing on the integration and shared use of combat aircraft and other equipment with the militaries of the US and its Western "quasi-allies." It has acquired the same tanker aircraft and reconnaissance UAVs as the US military to ensure logistics interconnectivity and intelligence sharing. In addition, it had jointly developed the new generation of trainer aircraft with the US and the sixth-generation fighters with the UK and Italy. At the same time, the JASDF has greatly expanded the scope of exchanges and cooperation, including joint training with the air forces of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Australia and other countries, and frequent F-35 fighter joint training during military exercises such as "Cope North 25" and "Bushido Guardian 25" with the US and Australia. The JASDF has also dispatched fighters on multiple occasions to conduct joint training and exercises with US bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, tanker aircraft and other equipment stationed in Japan, aiming to develop the systematic combat collaboration capability.
Japan continues to accelerate its military presence in space.
In 2025, Japan's Ministry of Defense released its first-ever "Space Domain Defense Guidelines," which placed space as an independent domain of operations on par with land, sea and air domains. It further explicitly stated that Japan needs to develop proactive offensive capabilities to ensure its space superiority and respond to space attacks. Japan's space military capabilities are gradually entering the stage of substantive deployment. After the establishment of the "Space Operations Command" in fiscal year 2026, the JASDF personnel engaged in space-related missions will achieve a significant increase from about 20 in 2020 to 880. The JASDF is also deeply involved in the US military's space exercises, such as the "Space Flag" and "Global Sentinel." It will possibly participate in the research and development of the Golden Dome program, the next-generation space-based missile defense system of the US, indicating Japan's accelerated integration into the US-led space operational system.
The JASDF's continuous expansion of its military strength is a prominent manifestation of Japan's hell-bent efforts in recent years to break free from the constraints of the post-war system and promote "remilitarization." Its emphasis on offensive capabilities, especially pre-emptive long-range strike capabilities, is obviously a sign of the resurgence of militarism. It not only goes against the spirit of Japan's pacifist constitution, but also disrupts regional strategic balance, drives the formation of camps in the Asia-Pacific security, and seriously provokes the post-war international order.
(The author is from the China Institute of International Studies.)