On August 13, 2025, Japan’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) has completed the relocation of all 17 V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft to the newly established Camp Saga on Kyushu Island. The month-long operation began in early July with the departure of the first aircraft from Camp Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture, concluding when the last Osprey landed in Saga this Tuesday. The move represents a significant boost to Japan’s ability to rapidly respond to potential threats in its southwestern island chain.
The V-22 Osprey, combining the vertical takeoff capability of a helicopter with the speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft, can carry up to 24 fully armed troops or around 9 metric tons of cargo. With a cruising speed of approximately 460 km/h and an extended range of over 1,600 km using auxiliary tanks, the aircraft can operate from austere airfields, naval vessels, and isolated terrain. Light defensive weapons, such as a side-mounted or ventral machine gun, can be installed for high-risk missions.
For Japan, the Osprey’s unique mobility enables rapid troop insertion, supply delivery, and casualty evacuation without reliance on large runways—making it ideal for defending the strategically important Nansei Islands. From Saga, the aircraft will operate in close coordination with the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade at Camp Ainoura, allowing swift access to critical locations across the southwestern archipelago.
The transfer was conducted in stages, with most aircraft arriving in July. Two additional Ospreys reached the base on August 6 and 12. A minor incident occurred on July 28 when one aircraft made a precautionary landing in Kitatokushima due to a warning light, before resuming its journey. Training flights began the same day and later expanded to include operations to bases in Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, and Kumamoto.
Saga Prefecture emphasized that the base will not host U.S. Marine Corps Ospreys, honoring a 2015 policy decision. Positioned adjacent to a civilian airport, Camp Saga forms part of Japan’s broader strategy to enhance its force projection and amphibious capabilities in the region. This deployment not only strengthens tactical airlift capacity but also improves joint operations between air and naval units, reinforcing Japan’s readiness to respond swiftly in a region marked by growing strategic challenges.
