The United States Space Force officially established a new unit at Yokota Air Base in Tokyo on Wednesday (December 4th) to strengthen space defense and deterrence capabilities between the two countries.
During the establishment ceremony held at the base, Major General Anthony Mastalir, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Space Command, stated that due to threats from countries like China, North Korea, and Russia to the stability of the Indo-Pacific region, “the US Space Force stationed in Japan will serve as a center for deepening US-Japan cooperation in national security and synchronization.”
The new unit is expected to provide recommendations and expertise to enhance Japan’s space surveillance and missile warning capabilities.
Mastalir also analyzed that China is developing anti-satellite weapons (ASAT) and has increased its ability to remotely target US military vessels by improving satellite-based target tracking. Therefore, ensuring space superiority is crucial.
Colonel Ryan Laughton, commander of the US Space Force stationed in Japan, stated during the ceremony, “Our space capabilities will help deter aggression from adversaries” and will contribute to protecting allies, which should not be underestimated.
According to Kyodo News, the US Space Force Headquarters in Japan is located at Yokota Air Base and consists of dozens of personnel who collaborate with the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force’s Space Operations Group based in Fuchu, Tokyo.
US and Japanese authorities have indicated that as part of bilateral space cooperation initiatives, Japan’s constellation of geolocation satellites will carry US space sensors capable of collecting data and intelligence.
Another US Asia-Pacific ally, South Korea, facing military threats from North Korea, officially established the US Space Force stationed in Korea in December 2022. The US Space Force in Japan will also collaborate with the US Space Force in South Korea to better monitor developments on the Korean Peninsula.
The Space Force is the sixth branch of the US military, following the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. The US Space Force inaugurated the Indo-Pacific Space Command in Hawaii in November 2022, overseeing space military operations in the entire Indo-Pacific region.