Japan Press Weekly

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2015 August 12 - 18 [US FORCES]

US Army aircraft crashes during antiterrorism drill

A U.S. Army helicopter, an MH-60M Blackhawk, crashed into the sea off the east coast of the main island of Okinawa on August 12 during an anti-terrorism training exercise being conducted ahead of the enactment of Japan’s pending war legislation. Two Ground Self-Defense Force personnel along with five U.S. servicemen were injured. The Okinawa prefectural government on the following day demanded that the U.S. Forces Japan take measures to prevent a recurrence.

The helicopter was taking part in the training exercise simulating a mission to rescue crewmembers from a vessel taken over by terrorists, said sources close to the authorities of Japan and the United States. The aircraft reportedly crashed onto a U.S. Military Sealift Command ship.

The two injured SDF officers are sergeants 1st class belonging to the JGSDF Central Readiness Force and are members of the Special Forces Group handling terrorist and guerrilla attacks.

The proposed security-related legislation includes revision of the existing SDF Act so that SDF units can go abroad to rescue Japanese nationals affected by terrorist attacks overseas. The Defense Ministry explained that the two were “observing” the U.S. Army training exercise. Their presence in the exercise means that they participated in rescue maneuvers training although the controversial security bills have not yet been approved.

The Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation Guidelines which were revised in April call for anti-terrorism and anti-piracy operations as part of global-scale maritime security cooperation. The hostage rescue training mission took place in preparation for future Japan-U.S. joint military operations based on the new Japan-U.S. guidelines.

Past related article:
> US copter dropping blank rounds was part of assault operation drill[July 29, 2015]