Information Warfare Command
| Information Warfare Command | |
|---|---|
| 情報作戦集団 | |
| Active | March 23, 2026 – Present |
| Country | Japan |
| Branch | Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force |
| Type | Military intelligence Cyber warfare Information warfare |
| Role | Intelligence, cyber defense, electronic warfare, and oceanographic operations |
| Size | Command |
| Part of | Directly under the Minister of Defense |
| Headquarters | Ichigaya, Shinjuku, Tokyo |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Vice Admiral Takeshi Yoshioka (吉岡猛)[1] |
| Chief of Staff | Rear Admiral Yuichiro Toi (戸井雄一郎)[2] |
The Information Warfare Command (Japanese: 情報作戦集団, Hepburn: Jōhō Sakusen Shūdan) (IWC) is an information warfare formation of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). It is directly subordinate to the Minister of Defense, with its headquarters located at the Ministry of Defense complex in Ichigaya, Tokyo.[3] The IWC was created to integrate the JMSDF's intelligence collection and information warfare capabilities into a unified operational structure.[4]
History
Plans for creating the IWC were disucssed in the Defense Buildup Program in December 2022.[5]
The IWC was established on March 23, 2026 as part of a major reorganization of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's intelligence and cyber warfare capabilities.[6] The command consolidated several existing organizations, including the Fleet Intelligence Command, the Oceanographic and Anti-Submarine Support Command, and the Communications Systems Command, into a single organization directly under the Minister of Defense.[7][8]
From April 10 to 14, 2026, the IWC participated in the Blue Spectrum 26-1 exercises in Australia.[9]
Organization
The Information Warfare Command is commanded by a vice admiral and consists of the following major subordinate formations:[10][11] The command has a manpower of 2,000 sailors.[6]
The IWC is modelled after the United States Tenth Fleet.[6]
Information Warfare Command
- Operations Intelligence Group
- Operations Intelligence Group Headquarters
- Intelligence Collection Unit (情報収集隊)
- Matsumae Security Station
- Tappi Security Station
- Iki Security Station
- Kamitsushima Security Station (上対馬警備所)
- Shimotsushima Security Station (下対馬警備所)
- Meteorological and Oceanographic Intelligence Unit (気象海洋情報隊)
- Okinawa Oceanographic Observation Station
- Shimokita Oceanographic Observation Station
- Kagoshima Acoustic Measurement Station (鹿児島音響測定所)
- 1st Oceanographic Operations Unit (JMSDF Yokosuka Naval Base)
- Oceanographic survey ships Nichinan, Shōnan, and Akashi
- Cable-laying ship Muroto (JMSDF Kure Naval Base)
- 1st Acoustic Measurement Unit (Kure Base)
- Cyber Defense Group
- Cyber Defense Group Headquarters
- Central Cyber Defense Unit
- Central Cyber Defense Detachment
- Yokosuka Cyber Defense Unit (JMSDF Yokosuka Naval Base)
- Atsugi Cyber Defense Detachment (Atsugi Air Base)
- Tateyama Cyber Defense Detachment (Tateyama Air Base)
- Kure Cyber Defense Unit (Kure Base)
- Iwakuni Cyber Defense Detachment (Iwakuni Air Base)
- Sasebo Cyber Defense Unit (Sasebo Base)
- Omura Cyber Defense Detachment (Omura Air Base)
- Kanoya Cyber Defense Detachment (JMSDF Maizuru Naval Base)
- Maizuru Cyber Defense Unit (JMSDF Maizuru Naval Base)
- Ominato Cyber Defense Unit (JMSDF Ōminato Naval Base)
- Hachinohe Cyber Defense Detachment (Hachinohe Air Base)
- Shimofusa Cyber Defense Unit (Shimofusa Air Base)
- Naha Cyber Defense Unit (Naha Air Base)
Commanders
| No. | Commander | Took office | Left office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vice Admiral Takeshi Yoshioka (吉岡猛) | March 23, 2026 | In office[2] |
References
- ^ "Information Warfare Command". 防衛省・自衛隊 (in Japanese). 2026-03-23. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
- ^ a b "人事発令 令和8年3月23日付け、将補人事（陸自26名、海自20名、空自11名）". Jディフェンスニュース（自衛隊・防衛省のニュース） (in Japanese). 2026-03-07. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
- ^ "海自が史上最大級「攻めの再編」 戦力集約、指揮一元化 中国進出で警戒任務増加に対応" (in Japanese). 産経新聞. 2026-03-23. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
- ^ "海自 新部隊「情報作戦集団」発足 偽情報やサイバー攻撃に対応". NHKニュース (in Japanese). 2026-03-25. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
- ^ Casimiro, Christine (2024-09-11). "Japan Restructures to Create 'Fleet Information Warfare' Command". The Defense Post. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ^ a b c "Japan's New Fleet Information Warfare Command Creates Opportunities for the US Navy". www.cna.org. Archived from the original on 2026-06-18. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ^ "Maritime Self-Defense Force FY2025 Budget Request". Ships of the World. 24 September 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ^ "自衛隊ニュース｜防衛ホーム新聞社｜自衛隊の日々の活動を紹介しております。". 防衛ホーム新聞社｜自衛隊の日々の活動を紹介しております。 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-09-24.
- ^ "自衛艦隊について". 防衛省・自衛隊 (in Japanese). 2026-04-04. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
- ^ "Cabinet Order Partially Revising the Enforcement Order of the Self-Defense Forces Act (Cabinet Order No. 24 of 2026)" (PDF). Ministry of Defense.
- ^ "海自 水上艦隊を新編 情報作戦集団も発足". 朝雲デジタル (in Japanese). 2026-04-16. Retrieved 2026-06-05.