JS Izumo’s drone video published online is most likely authentic – The Diplomat

On May 9, the Japanese Ministry of Defense announced that it had determined this a video posted on social media purportedly captured by a Chinese drone flying over the JS Izumo is most likely authentic.

The ministry said that after a comprehensive analysis of video footage of the ship – Japan's largest warship since World War II – as well as nearby buildings, plants, waves and shadows caused by sunlight, etc., it determined the likelihood a production is very low.

The 19 second video and accompanying photos of the JS Izumo were uploaded to the Chinese video-sharing platform BiliBili on March 26 by a user with a Chinese name. The poster claimed the footage was taken with a drone at the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Yokosuka base in Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo. The Yokosuka base is also home to the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet.

The footage has since been removed by BiliBili but has been reposted on other social media platforms such as X, formerly known as Twitter.

The drone appeared to have approached the ship from behind and flown across the deck.

In Japan, flying a drone over Self-Defense Force facilities and their surrounding areas, such as the Yokosuka base, is prohibited by law. Those violating the law face a prison sentence of up to one year or a fine of up to 500,000 yen ($3,215).

The Defense Department has been analyzing the video since late March, when the JMSDF learned of the footage, to determine whether it was fake or edited.

At the ministry's press conference on May 9, there were a number of questions from reporters about the oddity of only a digit of the Izumo's ship's number appearing on the aft deck, rather than the full number 83. Some experts had done so pointed out the discrepancy as proof that the video was fake.

The defense official said the ship's number, which was originally white, has been painted gray since fiscal 2019. Therefore, due to various technical factors such as light reflection and viewing angle, only a part of the ship's number can be seen now, the official said.

“After carefully examining each of these points, we concluded that there was basically no unnaturalness in the footage,” the official stressed.

This time the drone only took video footage. No damage was reported to the Izumo or other Ministry of Defense and JMSDF assets in Yokosuka. However, had the enemy's goal been a surprise attack by drones, Tokyo might have found itself in a very serious situation and possibly lost one of the service's two Izumo-class ships, the largest ships in the fleet.

The Izumo and her sister ship, the Kaga, both officially helicopter destroyers, were converted to light aircraft carriers to accommodate F-35B fighters. The F-35B fighters have a vertical or short takeoff capability and can be launched from short flight decks without the support of catapult systems.

The ministry said: “The Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces take the analysis results extremely seriously, as damage to defense-related facilities by drones could pose a serious obstacle to the defense of our country.”

“Now that drone technology is rapidly evolving, it is important to continually improve base security capabilities,” it said.

“We intend to ensure base security through initiatives such as the early introduction of more powerful anti-drone equipment and thorough measures to take strict and rapid measures within the law, such as: “For example, the forced landing of illegal drones by jamming radio waves,” the ministry added.

Previously, Japanese Defense Minister Kihara Minoru said at a press conference on April 2 that the video could be fake.

“We are analyzing the video and also examining the possibility that it was maliciously processed or falsified,” Kihara said at the press conference at the time. “We monitor closely [drone activities around Yokosuka Base] on a regular basis,” he also said, adding, “We will continue to work closely with related organizations to ensure the security of the base.”

The user who claims to have uploaded JS Izumo's video on Chinese social mediahad posted several photos of the USS Ronald Reagan stationed in Yokosukathe US Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, which was also apparently taken over by a drone.

On May 9, Japanese defense officials avoided commenting on the US aircraft carrier footage, saying it occurred “in areas of US military installations outside Japan's jurisdiction.”

In any case, Tokyo must take all possible measures to secure its bases, including quickly equipping the country with advanced capabilities to detect, identify and shoot down dangerous drones, as well as significantly strengthening its deterrence.