DAHLGREN, Va. - Military and civilian leaders from Japan's Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and Ministry of Defense are pictured in front of the U.S. Navy's electromagnetic railgun prototype launcher after observing a live railgun demonstration, Feb. 7. Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) engineers briefed the delegation on electromagnetic launchers and hypervelocity projectiles at the command's railgun facility. Subsequently, the 19 JSDF officers and Ministry of Defense officials visited the Center for Surface Combat Systems and AEGIS Training and Readiness Center to learn more about AEGIS training and observe the Baseline 9 lab, collocated with NSWCDD at Naval Support Facility Dahlgren. The military officers represented the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) as well as the Japanese Army and Air Force. JMSDF is the naval branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. It also participates in UN-led peacekeeping operations and maritime interdiction operations. The Center for Strategic and International Studies - who sponsored and coordinated the visit - is a bipartisan, nonprofit policy research organization dedicated to providing strategic insights and policy solutions to help decision-makers chart a course toward a better world.