The Japanese government has opened Camp Saga southwest of the country as the permanent base of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s fleet of V-22 Osprey helicopters. The JGSDF deployed the first fleet of 17 Ospreys on Wednesday as part of Japan’s defense buildup to counter China’s increasing warship activity in the region.
Join the 2025 Air and Space Defense Summit on July 31 for more updates and insights on aircraft support for national and global security. Register today!
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told the media on Tuesday that the Ospreys’ missions will be coordinated closely with the military’s amphibious rapid deployment brigade at Ainoura in Camp Saga’s neighboring naval town of Sasebo.
“The security environment surrounding Japan has been increasingly severe, and it is our pressing task to strengthen our island defense capabilities,” he said.
Gen Nakatani said it is Japan’s pressing task to strengthen our island defense capabilities
According to a Yomiuri Shimbun report, Camp Saga is the first new JGSDF camp established since Camp Ishigaki in Okinawa prefecture in 2023. Sixteen Osprey takeoffs and landings are planned at Camp Saga, with about five at night.
The V-22 Osprey, manufactured by Boeing and Bell Helicopter, has already logged 500,000 operational hours supporting U.S. military missions.