Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force held an annual live-ammunition drill near Mount Fuji on June 8, the largest such event in the country.
About 2,900 GSDF members from various parts of Japan took part in the 67th Fuji Firepower Exercise using 45 tanks and armored vehicles, 64 artilleries and about 20 aircraft.
As usual, the drill was held based on the scenario of an enemy landing invasion on Japan’s southwestern islands.
Troops deployed amphibious units and used tanks and artillery to defend the islands.
Based on lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, they took part for the first time in combat activity involving entering trenches built by the enemy.
The GSDF unveiled for the first time the improved launcher of the Type 12 surface-to-ship guided missiles that also have counterattack capability.
Officials said a total of 76.6 tons of ammunition were prepared for use in the one-day event, the largest amount since 2019 and worth about 870 million yen.
AloJapan.com