By Zi Ge
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) is about to initiate its largest-scale organizational restructuring, according to foreign media reports on September 4. Formed in 1961, the 63-year Fleet Escort Force of the JMSDF will soon be replaced by a new "Fleet Surface Force", a move that analysts said was aimed to establish a surface warfare system centered on light aircraft carriers in order to enhance Japan's ocean-going combat capability.
Japan currently has four escort flotillas, namely Escort Flotilla 1 in Yokosuka, Escort Flotilla 2 in Sasebo, Escort Flotilla 3 in Maizuru, and Escort Flotilla 4 in Kure. According to the restructuring plan, the current Fleet Escort Force, Mine Warfare Force, and minesweeper divisions of the escort divisions under the JMSDF's Districts will be reorganized into the Fleet Surface Force, a process expected to be completed before March 2026.
It is reported that JMSDF plans to regroup the four escort forces into three new surface battle groups that will be responsible for meeting the combat needs on three lines. Japan hasn't revealed the specific strategic directions of the three lines, but what's certain is that the three surface battle groups, as the mainstay of the surface fleet, will carry out maritime war-preparedness and training missions.
Analysts pointed out the three reasons for JMSDF's restructuring.
First, it wants to integrate elite forces for convenient command and deployment. For a long time, the JMSDF's specialized forces are too scattered. For instance, the Mine Warfare Force of the Self Defense Fleet and the minesweeper divisions of escort divisions under the JMSDF's Districts both undertaken minesweeping functions, and the four Escort Flotillas and the five Escort Divisions also have overlapping duties that need clearer definition. The restructuring aims to put together vessels according to their purposes and combat duties to achieve convenient and flexible command and deployment.
Second, it intends to create an aircraft carrier formation to enhance Japan's ocean-going combat capability. The work to transform the two 20,000-ton-class helicopter destroyers, Izumo and Kaga, into light aircraft carriers has been primarily completed, and vertical takeoff/landing test of F-35B fighters has begun. As the flagship vessel of two surface combat groups, the two light aircraft carriers will each be equipped with at least ten F-35B fighters to form formations with strong attack capability that will enable the execution of offensive air supremacy, sea control, or island-seizing missions. They may even be able to fill up the blank in Asia Pacific when American aircraft carriers are performing tasks elsewhere.
Third, it plans to establish a fleet structure similar to that of the US Navy for better integration. The restructuring will reshape the JMSDF into a structure similar to that of the US Navy, comprising surface forces, submarine forces, aviation forces, marines, and onshore units, resulting in smoother communication and operation between the JMSDF and the US Navy. Meanwhile, the newly formed Amphibious Mine Warfare Group is likely to become a frequent participant in US-Japan joint exercise and training in the future, as its duties and most of the exercise and training subjects, such as amphibious landing, three-dimensional minesweeping, and transport on the sea, match very well.
On the whole, JMSDF launched the restructuring in order to seek thalassocracy in the future and further enhance its capabilities of ocean-going combat, amphibious operations, and aircraft carrier formation operations. It also indicates that JMSDF will break away from the 63-year limitation to "self-defense" and develop outbound offensive capabilities, a change that is worth close attention and vigilance from various parties.
