Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Since the 2010s, Japan has been compelled to respond to China’s maritime expansion and military buildup. A particularly critical issue has been how to defend Japan’s remote islands and key island chains in the East China Sea, commonly known as the Nansei Islands. To address this challenge, the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (ARDB), a specialized force for initial defense operations, was established in March 2018.
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The ARDB is a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) unit with approximately 3,000 personnel. Its defining characteristic is its full-scale amphibious operational capability, something the JGSDF had never previously possessed. If an enemy were to seize one of Japan’s remote islands, recapturing it would require an amphibious assault against a well-defended position. The ARDB was created as a dedicated force for this purpose.
The ARDB consists of three regiments, known as Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiments, as its core units. To facilitate their landing operations, the brigade has been equipped with AAV-7 amphibious assault vehicles. The ARDB operates three variants of the AAV-7: the personnel carrier, command, and recovery versions. The standard personnel carrier variant is crewed by a commander, driver, and rear crew member, and can transport approximately ten troops in its rear compartment.
During amphibious operations, the ARDB embarks its AAV-7s onto Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Ōsumi-class landing ship tank (LST), launching them from the well deck for shore assaults. The brigade is based at Ainoura Garrison in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, which is close to JMSDF Sasebo Naval Base. This location was chosen to enable rapid embarkation onto transport ships in times of emergency.
Read more: navalnews.com/interviews/2025/07/japans-ardb-combat-landing-battalion-an-interview-with-its-commander
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Since the 2010s, Japan has been compelled to respond to China’s maritime expansion and military buildup. A particularly critical issue has been how to defend Japan’s remote islands and key island chains in the East China Sea, commonly known as the Nansei Islands. To address this challenge, the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (ARDB), a specialized force for initial defense operations, was established in March 2018.
=====================
The ARDB is a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) unit with approximately 3,000 personnel. Its defining characteristic is its full-scale amphibious operational capability, something the JGSDF had never previously possessed. If an enemy were to seize one of Japan’s remote islands, recapturing it would require an amphibious assault against a well-defended position. The ARDB was created as a dedicated force for this purpose.
The ARDB consists of three regiments, known as Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiments, as its core units. To facilitate their landing operations, the brigade has been equipped with AAV-7 amphibious assault vehicles. The ARDB operates three variants of the AAV-7: the personnel carrier, command, and recovery versions. The standard personnel carrier variant is crewed by a commander, driver, and rear crew member, and can transport approximately ten troops in its rear compartment.
During amphibious operations, the ARDB embarks its AAV-7s onto Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Ōsumi-class landing ship tank (LST), launching them from the well deck for shore assaults. The brigade is based at Ainoura Garrison in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, which is close to JMSDF Sasebo Naval Base. This location was chosen to enable rapid embarkation onto transport ships in times of emergency.
Read more: navalnews.com/interviews/2025/07/japans-ardb-combat-landing-battalion-an-interview-with-its-commander
=====================
For new videos every week, subscribe here! youtube.com/c/NavalNews?sub_confirmation=1
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/navalnewscom
Follow us on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/navalnews
Like us on Facebook: fb.me/navalnewscom
Check out our daily naval defense news coverage at: navalnews.com
NAVAL NEWS is fully focused on naval topics. We cover the latest naval defense shows & events. We also report on naval technology from all over the world. Navalnews.com is updated daily with in-depth features, industry, and naval forces news round-ups, event coverage, video reports and more. Our top of the line site is responsive across all mobile and desktop devices.
