Development of JASDF Facilities on Mageshima Island
Editor’s Note:
Japan Accelerates Construction of a New Strategic Military Base on Mageshima.Once a remote and uninhabited island, Mageshima is now emerging as a critical hub in Japan’s defense posture. Amid growing regional tensions and a deteriorating security environment, the Japanese government has moved forward with the development of an airbase capable of supporting both Japanese and U.S. forces.
- Background & Rationale
Japan is facing increasingly severe and complex security challenges, particularly as regional military build-up intensifies. There is growing pressure to change the status quo by force. In response, developing a JASDF training base in the southwestern island region, which currently lacks adequate facilities, is essential for rapid response and routine exercises .
Current Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) operations are conducted on Iwo Jima, far from the home base in Iwakuni (~1,400 km), posing safety risks due to volcanic activity and distance . Establishing FCLP-capable infrastructure on Mageshima will significantly enhance our deterrence capabilities alongside the U.S. Navy in the Asia-Pacific region, while improving disaster-response readiness .
- Facility Plan
The draft plan for the provisional Mageshima Air Base includes:
FCLP runway and related operational structures
Support facilities, such as hangars, maintenance, and fuel storage
A contingent of 150–200 JASDF personnel, with housing provided on nearby Tanegashima and ferry access to the base.
Source: Ministry of Defense, Japan