Japan Self-Defense Forces
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The Japan Self-Defense Forces, also known as the Japanese Armed Forces, are the unified de facto military forces of Japan. Established in 1954, the JSDF comprises the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. They are controlled by the Ministry of Defense with the Prime Minister as commander-in-chief.
National Police Reserve, 3 May 1952
The Japanese Ministry of Defense
JS Kongō (DDG-173) firing a Standard Missile 3 anti-ballistic missile to intercept a target missile launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on December 17, 2007
JGSDF soldiers during a training exercise
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force , abbreviated JMSDF , also simply known as the Japanese Navy, is the maritime warfare branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. The JMSDF was formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) after World War II. The JMSDF has a fleet of 154 ships, 346 aircraft and 50,800 personnel.
JMSDF during fleet maneuvers in 2019
The Sōryū-class attack submarine Kenryū
JS Izumo, an Izumo-class helicopter destroyer being refitted to carry F-35B stealth fighters