According to Kyodo News, about 3,400 GSDF members, 70 tanks, amphibious vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and V-22 Osprey aircraft participated in the live-fire exercise at a firing range at the foot of Mount Fuji near Gotemba City, Shizuoka Prefecture. The Japanese Ministry of Defense said about 57 tons of ammunition worth 1.07 billion yen ($7.6 million) were used in the exercise.

The main content of the exercise is a Japanese island being invaded. The reconnaissance force will go by helicopter around the island and use UAVs to spy.

Then a mobile amphibious brigade would join the fight. Armored vehicles would open fire while commanders discussed tactics to retake the island.

This is the GSDF’s largest-scale exercise, held annually since 1961. About 20,000 randomly selected citizens were invited to watch the exercise live. In addition, the event was also broadcast live. In the past 3 years, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, citizens were not invited to watch.

Despite the pandemic situation easing, the GSDF is still holding closed-door exercises. Officials explained that this is because the security situation is getting more serious and requires concentration.

The exercise comes as the Japanese government moves to expand the role of the Self-Defense Forces and boost its defense budget. In March, Japan approved a defense budget of 6.82 trillion yen (about $51.7 billion) for the fiscal year starting in April, up 26.3 percent from the previous year.