The annual exercises of the armed forces of Japan (14 pictures)

Japan Self-Defense Forces - the modern name of the armed forces of Japan. It was formed in 1954 from two years earlier established National Security Forces. The main objective of the SDF is the defense of the state, the protection of the freedom and independence of Japan. The structure of the armed forces are: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Although Japan has relatively small size of the army, on its armed with the most modern armaments.

At the foot of Mount Fuji, at the site Higashi Fuji, August 21 passed the annual exercise of the Ground Self-Defense Force. They were attended by 2,400 people, 80 tanks and armored vehicles, 80 helicopters.

1. Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture. At the foot of Mount Fuji are armored doctrine. (Picture: KeystoneUSA-ZUMA / Rex Features)


2. Due tracers that glow in flight, night session looks very impressive. (Picture: REUTERS / Issei Kato)


3. At the landfill Higashi Fuji military launches anti-tank missiles during fire training. (Picture: Koji Sasahara / AP)


4. Testing of landing. (Picture: YOSHIKAZU TSUNO / AFP / GettyImages)


5. Heavy military transport helicopter "Chinook" can be simultaneously delivered to a given point of 33 to 50 soldiers. The helicopter for the Japanese Armed Forces is a modification of the CH-47J. (Picture: KeystoneUSA-ZUMA / Rex Features)


6. The landing of troops carried out on special ropes to 5 people. (Picture: REUTERS / Issei Kato)


7. Combat helicopter "Apache" modification AH-64D «Longbow" attack targets produces anti-tank missiles from the single-barrel automatic cannon. (Picture: YOSHIKAZU TSUNO / AFP / GettyImages)


8. Main battle tank "Type 74". As part of the Japan Self-Defense Forces including more than 500 tanks of this type. In 2012 it has been adopted "Type 10", to replace the outdated "Type 74". (Picture: REUTERS / Issei Kato)


9. Run projectile gun mount. (Picture: Koji Sasahara / AP)


10. Tanks "Type 70" and "Type 90" hit the targets set during the night session. (Picture: REUTERS / Issei Kato)


11. A jumper on the background of Mount Fuji. (Picture: REUTERS / Issei Kato)


12. Soldiers with anti-tank hand grenade. (Picture: REUTERS / Issei Kato)


13. Run anti-tank missiles with an armored vehicle. (Picture: YOSHIKAZU TSUNO / AFP / GettyImages)


14. Delivery of armored vehicles to the place of the exercise was carried out with the help of helicopters "Chinook". (Picture: REUTERS / Issei Kato)