During a press briefing on Aug. 3, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi remarked on the Ground Self-Defense Force missile unit to be deployed to Ishigaki Island (Ishigaki City, Okinawa), saying, “We would like to deploy the unit during the [current] Medium-Term Defense Program (FY2019-2023).”

The minister also stated his intention to deploy an electronic warfare unit to Yonaguni Island (Yonaguni City, Okinawa) around FY2023.