JS Atago Archives - Maritime Shipping News

U.S. Bombers Drill with Japanese, South Korean Fighters After North Korean Missile Launches

20 March 2023

Japanese sailors aboard JS Atago (DDG-177) drill with US Navy destroyers. JMSDF Photo

U.S. forces conducted separate presence drills with South Korea and Japan over the last several days in response to multiple North Korean ballistic missile launches.

U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers and F-16 and F-35A Lighting II fighters flew with Republic of Korea Air Force Sunday. In a separate drill, U.S. Air Force B-1Bs and Japan-based U.S. F-16 Falcons joined Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15s.

Sunday’s...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/20/u-s-bombers-drill-with-japanese-south-korean-fighters-after-north-korean-missile-launches

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Expanding as Tokyo Takes New Approach to Maritime Security

29 May 2019

President Donald J. Trump joined by the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe arrive aboard the JS Kaga Tuesday, May 28, 2019, in Yokosuka, Japan. White House Photo

When President Donald Trump visited Japan this month, he was taken on board JS Kaga, one of a pair of new Izumo-class helicopter carriers built for the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) set to be retrofitted to fly the F-35B Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter. The carriers represent a new approach to maritime security that is...

https://news.usni.org/2019/05/29/japan-maritime-self-defense-force-expanding-as-tokyo-takes-new-approach-to-maritime-security

Japanese Navy Successfully Tests Latest Aegis BMD Upgrade from Destroyer JS Atago

13 September 2018

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force guided-missile destroyer JS Atago (DDG 177) returns to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after participating in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010 exercises. US Navy photo.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) demonstrated Japan’s sea-based ballistic missile defense capability, when destroyer JS Atago (DDG-177) intercepted a missile target off the coast of Hawaii this week.

Atago’s combat system was recently...

https://news.usni.org/2018/09/13/36523