Japan, US Begin Major Military Drills Featuring New Long-Range Missiles
The 11-day Keen Sword 2027 drills opened with a ceremony on Ishigaki Island in Japan and are scheduled to continue until October 29, according to an official US military information platform.
The exercise involves roughly 45,000 members of Japan's Self-Defense Forces and 11,000 US service members, with additional participation from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the Philippines.
South Korea and the United Kingdom are participating as observers.
Now in its 18th edition, the biennial exercise covers a range of military operations, including air and missile defense, the protection of facilities, logistical support, casualty evacuation and maritime missions.
“Today, it is a great privilege and significance to commence Keen Sword 27 in Ishigaki, Japan's western-most point,” said Adm. Tawara Tateki, commander of Japan's Joint Operations Command.
Japan's Type 25 surface-to-ship guided missile is taking part in the drills for the first time, according to reports. The weapon is reported to have a range of approximately 1,000 kilometers (621 miles).
The missile will be used in simulated operations during the exercise, with no live firing planned.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
