This exercise brings together service members from each nation’s military in a combined effort to enhance interoperability in pursuit of common regional security goals. Service members from participating units plan, coordinate and conduct operations over land and at sea.
Vessels from each navy will plan and prepare amphibious landings and air assaults while also conducting formation maneuvers, air defense exercises and communication drills.
The culminating events are scheduled to include surveillance and insertion of forces via JSDF CH-47 Chinook helicopters from French Mistral-class amphibious assault ship Tonnerre (L9014), followed by a helicopter-borne assault via U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys from USS New Orleans. Once all forces are together on the ground they will begin an assault on a shared objective.
ARC21 Participating units
JMSDF units
- Hyūga-class helicopter destroyer JS Ise (DDH-182),
- Atago-class guided missile destroyer JS Ashigara (DDG-178),
- Asahi-class destroyer JS Asahi (DD-119),
- Kongō-class guided missile destroyer JS Kongō (DDG-173)
- Ōsumi-class landing ship tank JS Ōsumi (LST 4001)
- Hayabusa-class patrol boats JS Ōtaka (PG-826) and JS Shirataka (PG-829),
- an unnamed submarine
In addition, JGSDF units (Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade and Western Air Defense Force CH-47JA, AH-64) and JASDF units (Western Air Defense Force F-2) will also take part in the training.
US Navy units
- San Antonio-class landing platform dock USS New Orleans (LPD-18),
- P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft,
- MV-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft,
French Navy units
- Mistral-class LHD Tonnerre (L9014)
- La Fayette-class Frigate Surcouf (F 711)
Royal Australian Navy unit
- Anzac-class frigate Parramatta (FFH 154)
“The JMSDF has started the joint exercise “ARC21″ with the Royal Australian Navy, French Navy, and the US Navy, strengthening defense cooperation, to realize a Free and Open IndoPacific. Landing exercise for the defense of remote islands is planned as a part of ARC21 with JMSDF ships, maritime patrol aicraft, and submarine.”
JMSDF statement on Twitter
