Japan has dispatched military officials to India to investigate the feasibility of utilizing Indian missile testing facilities for training with advanced long-range weaponry and small attack drones. This initiative points towards a significant expansion of defense cooperation between Tokyo and New Delhi.
General Masayoshi Arai, Chief of Staff for the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF), confirmed the deployment of officials to India for discussions. The talks include potential training exercises involving surface-to-ship missiles, such as Japan's newly deployed Type 25, which boasts a range of approximately 1,000 kilometers, alongside small attack drones. A final decision on these arrangements has not yet been announced.
Challenges for Long-Range Training in Japan
The exploration of overseas training sites stems from the inherent difficulties Japan faces in conducting exercises with long-range weapons domestically. Operating missiles with extended ranges requires vast firing areas and stringent safety protocols, which are challenging to secure within Japan's geographical confines. General Arai highlighted the ongoing examination of both domestic and international options to establish suitable training environments.
Similarly, training with small attack drones presents its own set of challenges, including managing radio frequencies, identifying appropriate locations, fulfilling operational requirements, and ensuring robust safety management.
India as a Strategic Partner for Defense Training
India is emerging as a compelling alternative due to its well-established missile-testing infrastructure and extensive access to coastal and maritime areas. These attributes make it an ideal candidate for conducting the types of training Japan requires. While discussions are still exploratory, the potential specific Indian facility remains unidentified.
General Arai emphasized India's role as a crucial partner in the Indo-Pacific region. He underscored the importance of fostering diverse forms of defense cooperation and exchanges amidst an increasingly complex and severe global security landscape. Both nations already maintain robust defense ties, participating in multilateral security frameworks such as the Quad, alongside the United States and Australia.
Access to India's training facilities would provide Japan with vital options as it continues to develop its long-range military capabilities, simultaneously opening new avenues for strengthened bilateral defense cooperation between the two strategic partners.