Ministry of Defense Announces Air-to-Air Gunnery and Bombing Exercises in Five Sea Areas, Including off the Coast of Misawa

The Ministry of Defense, in the Official Gazette dated August 25, 2026, announced via six notices—Ministry of Defense Notices No. 213 through No. 218—that air-to-air firing exercises and firing/bombing exercises against surface targets will be conducted in five sea areas (off Misawa, off Sado, north of Wakasa Bay, off Hyakuri, and off Hibikinada) from September 1 to October 31 of the same year. The notices were issued in the name of Minister of Defense Shinjiro Koizumi.

The exercises will be conducted in each sea area from 7:00 AM to between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM, excluding Sundays and holidays prescribed by the Act on National Holidays (Act No. 178 of 1948). Each notice explicitly states that the exercises will be carried out while confirming that no aircraft are present in the exercise areas and no ships or other vessels are present on the firing/bombing sea surfaces.

Air-to-Air Firing Exercises in Five Sea Areas

Ministry of Defense Notice No. 213 stipulates that air-to-air firing exercises will be conducted in the sea area off Misawa; No. 214 off Sado; No. 215 in the sea area north of Wakasa Bay; and No. 216 in the sea area off Hyakuri. Each area is defined as the sea surface and the airspace above it, enclosed by lines connecting five or six coordinates of latitude and longitude based on the World Geodetic System, with aircraft designated as the operating units.

• Off Misawa (No. 213): Up to an altitude of 10,668 meters, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Off Sado (No. 214): Up to an altitude of 10,668 meters, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
• North of Wakasa Bay (No. 215): Up to an altitude of 24,384 meters, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
• Off Hyakuri (No. 216): Up to an altitude of 12,192 meters, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Notices for Firing/Bombing Exercises Against Surface Targets

Ministry of Defense Notice No. 216 stipulates that air-to-air firing exercises and tests, as well as firing/bombing exercises and tests against surface targets, will be conducted in the sea area off Hyakuri; No. 217 stipulates that air-to-air firing exercises and firing/bombing exercises against surface targets will be conducted in the sea area off Hibikinada. No. 218 announces that firing/bombing exercises against surface targets will be conducted in the sea area off Misawa, with aircraft designated as the operating units for all.

• Off Hibikinada (No. 217): 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Off Misawa (No. 218): Up to an altitude of 10,668 meters, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Warning to Ship and Aircraft Operators

Each notice explicitly states that the latitude and longitude of the points in the exercise areas are based on the World Geodetic System and that exercises will be conducted while confirming the absence of aircraft, ships, and other vessels within the areas. Operators of ships navigating around the exercise sea areas and aircraft flying in the vicinity are requested to check the areas, periods, and time slots indicated in the notices to establish safe navigation and flight plans.

Related drawings and documents for the notifications are published in the Official Gazette, and the detailed coordinates of the training areas are listed in each notification. From the perspective of ensuring the safety of maritime and air traffic, relevant parties are encouraged to verify the latest contents of the notifications.

Source: Ministry of Defense Notifications No. 213 to No. 218 (Implementation of air-to-air firing training and bombing training against surface targets at sea) published in the Official Gazette (dated August 25, 2026), issued by Minister of Defense Shinjiro Koizumi.