As the government ramps up defense spending to “dramatically strengthen” Japan’s defense capabilities, the Kure District Headquarters of the Maritime Self-Defense Force in Hiroshima Prefecture is also expanding its activities as it celebrates the 70th anniversary of its founding on July 1 .
Based in the city of Kure, which developed together with the former Imperial Japanese Navy, the unit has expanded its activities since the end of World War II, not only in national defense, but also in disaster relief operations and overseas missions.
One of the current developments is a major upgrade of the MSDF’s Kaga destroyer, which is homeported at Kure Naval Base. The modifications are intended to de facto turn the ship into an aircraft carrier for the operation of F-35B stealth fighter jets, which can take off on a short runway and land vertically.
