The government has decided to send its second fleet, comprised of three Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers and one supply ship, to the Indian Ocean next month as part of Japan's continued noncombat support of the U.S.-led war on terrorism, government sources said Sunday.
Though the U.S. attacks in Afghanistan have ended, antiterrorism operations by the U.S. military are expected to continue, and Japan's support will be necessary, the sources said.
The first fleet of MSDF ships was dispatched last November to the Indian Ocean, and the second fleet is expected to take over the duty of the first, they said.