Fleet Intelligence Command Explained

Unit Name:Fleet Intelligence Command
Native Name:艦隊情報群
Dates:20 January 1997 – present
Country:Japan
Allegiance:Japan
Branch:Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Role:Intelligence
Command Structure:Self-Defense Fleet
Garrison:Yokosuka
Anniversaries:20 January
Website:https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/sf/unit/W007H0000007.html
Current Commander:Captain Yosuke Inaba
Commander1 Label:Commander
Ceremonial Chief Label:Chief of Staff
Colonel Of The Regiment Label:Operation Chief Staff

The [1] is the intelligence arm of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces. It was previously known as .

The FIC is commanded by Captain Yosuke Inaba as of 2023.[2]

History

It was the only intelligence unit of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, which was organized as an information business group with the establishment of the Defense Intelligence Headquarters on 20 January 1997.

On 19 March 2020, Takashi Inoue, then FIC commander, was reported to have debriefed a former vice admiral on Japanese national security circumstances.[3] He was subsequently indicted for violating the State Secrecy Law in December 2022.[4] [5]

On 1 October 2020, the Information Business Group was abolished and the Fleet Intelligence Command was established in its place. The Operation Information Support Corps, Electronic Information Support Corps, and Basic Information Support Corps were abolished, and the Operation Information Corps and Electromagnetic Information Corps were newly added.[6] [7] The FIC's capacity has been increased from about 200 to about 230, the efficiency of operations has been improved by integrating the units, the ability to collect and analyze electromagnetic wave information, etc. has been improved, and the information support function for the Self-Defense Fleet has been added.[8] [9]

On 25 and 26 August 2022, FIC conducted a tabletop exercise with the U.S. Navy Task Force 70 (TF70) / Carrier Strike Group 5 at the Maritime Operations Center in Funakoshi.[10]

Duties

The main task is to analyze and distribute operational information necessary for units such as the Self-Defense Fleet and the Regional District Forces that operate ships and aircraft.

Organization

The headquarters is located in the Maritime Operations Center in Funakoshi district.[11] [12]

Fleet Intelligence Command (Funakoshi)

Operational Intelligence Center (Funakoshi)

Electromagnetic Intelligence Command (Funakoshi)

Equipment

The FIC is known to operate SURTASS-equipped ships, consisting of the Hibiki and the Harima.[13]

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/sf/about/img/soshiki.pdf
  2. https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/sf/english/about/command/index.html
  3. https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/crime-courts/20221227-80011/
  4. https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20221227-80105/
  5. https://sp.m.jiji.com/english/show/23873
  6. Web site: 2020-10-09. 海自が部隊組織改編 10月1日付「艦隊情報群」を新編 朝雲新聞社. 2021-05-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20201009104905/http://www.asagumo-news.com/homepage/htdocs/news/newsflash/202010/201008/20100803.html. 2020-10-09.
  7. https://www.mod.go.jp/j/press/jinji/2020/1001a.pdf
  8. https://www.mod.go.jp/j/yosan/yosan_gaiyo/2020/yosan_20200330.pdf
  9. Web site: 【記者会見】防衛大臣. 2021-05-31. www.mod.go.jp. ja.
  10. https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/sf/english/news/2022/08/0829-02.html
  11. http://www.clearing.mod.go.jp/kunrei_data/a_fd/1985/ax19851221_00040_000.pdf
  12. Web site: 自衛隊法施行令 e-Gov法令検索. 2021-05-31. elaws.e-gov.go.jp.
  13. https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p309261/pdf/ch111.pdf