US Forces Japan, 4th Established at Yokota Base in Japan

The United States will establish the United States Space Force Japan (USSF-J) in Japan on the 4th.

According to Kyodo News and Asahi Shimbun, Anthony Mastaler, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Space Command, told local reporters on the 3rd that "the USSF-J is indispensable to maintain deterrence and respond to crises and conflicts."

The USSF-J will initially consist of several dozen personnel centered around the U.S. Yokota Air Base and plans to cooperate with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Space Operations Group, Kyodo News reported.

Commander Mastaler emphasized the need to promote U.S.-Japan cooperation in the space domain to enhance deterrence against China, North Korea, and Russia.

He cited "China's increased investment in space military capabilities" as the background for establishing the USSF-J, stating, "China has established methods to track U.S. and allied ground forces and ships with numerous satellites to conduct long-range attacks."

He also mentioned cooperation with the United States Space Force Korea, saying it will "enable more accurate monitoring of developments on the Korean Peninsula."

Previously, the United States established the Space Force in 2019, created the Indo-Pacific Space Command in Hawaii in November 2022, and established the United States Space Force Korea in December of the same year.