Page 25 - ADT MARCH 2023 Latest Magazine | GBP

 DSEi JAPAN SHOW PREVIEW
GUARDING

AGAINST

HYPERSONIC

GLIDE

VEHICLES In recent year, the US and other countries have been promoting a

satellite constellation project in which a number of small artificial
Japan’s build-up of defence capabilities in the satellites perform various functions in unison.The project is expected
near term involves a wide-scale strengthening to contribute to enhancing capabilities in gathering information
of necessary defence capabilities, including from space and maintaining artificial satellite functionality in the
those in new fields such as space, cyberspace event of damage.
and electromagnetic spectrum. In addition, to
ensure technological superiority in the defence “It has been indicated that some countries are developing hyper-
field, Japan will strengthen both research and sonic glide vehicles (HGVs), which fly at low altitudes at high speeds
development into potential game-changing and in irregular orbits. Therefore, Japan will collaborate with the US
technology, and the defence industrial base, as in conducting surveys and research related to technical demonstra-
well as bolstering its personnel base and secu- tions necessary for realising systems for detecting and tracking such
rity cooperation with other countries, a defence HGVs and similar weapons from space using satellite constellations
ministry statement said. as well as research on advanced infrared sensors,” the ministry said.

Self-Defence Forces (SDF) have been evolving since 2006 and the
use of ICT has become a crucial element in intelligence gathering
and command and control, it’s becoming increasingly important to
ensure the freedom of electronic spectrum domains in the same way
as cyber space and space domains,” said Col. Kadota Hiromitsu,
Commander of the Electronic Warfare Operations Unit.

In electromagnetic spectrum domains , a wide variety of radio waves
such as public broadcasts, mobile phones and many types of radars
are emitted in a heavily congested manner, creating a sensitive
environment much like neutral pathways. In this situation, it is nec-
essary to constantly manage radio waves so that those necessary
AIMING TO MANAGE for the unit’s command and control and intelligence gathering avoid
crossing other waves. Shaping electromagnetic spectrum domains
ELECTROMAGNETIC like neutral pathways against adversaries’ attempt to block the
freedom of the unit’s action is highly important in bringing about
SPECTRUM OPS successful operations, he said.

The GSDF has been accumulating knowledge on electronic warfare
An electronic warfare operations unit has been since the Showa period of (1926-1989), and also has a track record
established a year ago as part of Japan’s of properly managing radio waves for maintaining communications
Ground Self-Defence Force (GSDF) for the main when units assigned all over Japan carry out a variety of activities.
mission of electromagnetic spectrum opera-
tions. “The Electronic Warfare Operations Unit, in increasingly complex
electromagnetic spectrum domains, will further develop the knowl-
The focus is to build a multi-domain defence edge and proven performance it has accumulated thus far, and aim
force as one pillar of strengthen the country’s to become a professional group than can successfully accomplish
defence capabilities.“As joint operations of the missions in these domains,” Col. Hiromitsu said.
ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY MARCH 2023 | 25