Maritime Self Defense Force Kicks Off Submarine Competition

The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has launched a submarine competition off the country’s southern coast, reports the U.S. 7th Fleet.

The event is scheduled to begin on Wednesday and conclude on Feb. 20.

A U.S. Navy Los Angeles-class attack submarine is set to participate in the competition.

The competition is designed to evaluate and test Japanese crews on multiple platforms on their ability to conduct various aspects of anti-submarine warfare, said a 7th Fleet release on Tuesday.

The Japanese contingent includes several submarines, four aircraft wings, an aircraft squadron and five ships, including the Ise (182), a Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer.

A sonar technician from the U.S. Pacific Fleet Navy Data Center will embark on one of the Japanese submarines.

U.S. participation will “significantly improve our interoperability and strengthen the partnership among our forces,” said Capt. Toshiaki Hoshina, the deputy chief of staff for operations for the Japanese fleet submarine force.