The Fleet Intelligence Command (Japanese: 艦隊情報群, Hepburn: Kantai Jōhō-Gun)[1] is the intelligence arm of the Maritime Self-Defense Forces. It was previously known as Intelligence Business Command (情報業務群, Jōhōgyōmugun).

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 January 20, 1997.

On March 19, 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 August 25 and 26, 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][6]

Fleet Intelligence Command (Funakoshi)

  • Intelligence Management Office

Operational Intelligence Center (Funakoshi)

  • General Affairs Department
  • Strategic Intelligence Department 1
  • Strategic Intelligence Department 2
  • Strategic Intelligence Department 3
  • Computer Science

Electromagnetic Intelligence Command (Funakoshi)

  • General Affairs Department
  • Computer Science
  • Electromagnetic Intelligence Department 1
  • Electromagnetic Intelligence Department 2
  • Research Guidance Department

Equipment

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

Citations

  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. ^ a b "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". 2020-10-09. Archived from the original on 2020-10-09. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
  7. ^ https://www.mod.go.jp/j/press/jinji/2020/1001a.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  8. ^ https://www.mod.go.jp/j/yosan/yosan_gaiyo/2020/yosan_20200330.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  9. ^ "【記者会見】防衛大臣". www.mod.go.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-05-31.
  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 [bare URL PDF]
  12. ^ "自衛隊法施行令 | e-Gov法令検索". elaws.e-gov.go.jp. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
  13. ^ https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p309261/pdf/ch111.pdf

External links