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Fleet Air Force (JMSDF)

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In the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), the Fleet Air Force (Japanese: 航空集団, romanized: kōkū shūdan) is its naval aviation branch, responsible for both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft[1][2] and headquartered in Naval Air Facility Atsugi.[3] As of 2012, it was equipped with over 200 fixed-wing aircraft and 150 helicopters. These aircraft operate from bases throughout Japan, as well as from the JMSDF's ships.[4]: 66 

Fleet Air Force
航空集団
Fleet Air Force emblem
Active1 September 1961
Country Japan
Branch Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
TypeNaval aviation
Size11,000
Garrison/HQNaval Air Facility Atsugi
Anniversaries1 September
Insignia
Roundel
Three JMSDF P-3C Orions flying in formation during 2011

History

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The JMSDF's first aircraft were 16 Lockheed P2V Neptune maritime patrol aircraft, which were provided to the force by the United States Navy in 1956. The US Navy also provided Japan with 60 Grumman S-2 Trackers from 1957.[5]: 5  During the 1980s, the JMSDF's force of 82 Neptunes (most of which were the locally built Kawasaki P-2J variant) was replaced by about 100 Lockheed P-3 Orions.[5]: 10  The JMSDF's first combat helicopters were the Mitsubishi HSS-2 (the Japanese variant of the Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King).[5]: 13  These helicopters were replaced by SH-60Js during the 1990s.[5]: 14 

The JMSDF is the only force to operate minesweeping helicopters other than the US Navy. The first helicopters used for this purpose were eight V-107As.[5]: 11  These helicopters were replaced by eleven MH-53Es during the 1990s. Seven MCH-101 helicopters have been ordered to replace the MH-53Es, of which five had been delivered by mid-2012.[4]: 70 

The Diet of Japan approved the modification of the ships of the Izumo-class to operate STOVL aircraft and in 2019 ordered 42 STOVL Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning IIs.[6] The US Marine Corps will at first operate in cooperation their own F-35Bs to build up a Japanese capability to operate this type. The Asahi Shimbun quotes Japan's Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya “The Izumo-class aircraft carrier role is to strengthen the air defense in the Pacific Ocean and to ensure the safety of the Self-Defense Force pilots.” He also states, “There may be no runway available for the US aircraft in an emergency. I cannot say that the US F-35B should never be placed on an [JMSDF] escort vessel.” [7] The current plan is for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to operate the aircraft once delivered.[7]

Equipment

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The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force aviation maintains a large naval air force, including 201 fixed-wing aircraft and 145 helicopters. Most of these aircraft are used in anti-submarine warfare operations.

Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Maritime patrol
Kawasaki P-1 Japan ASW / maritime patrol 33[8] 3 on order[8]
successor to the P-3 Orion
Lockheed P-3 Orion United States ASW / maritime patrol P-3C 42[8] Being replaced by Kawasaki P-1
Lockheed EP-3 United States ELINT EP-3 ELINT 5[8]
Lockheed OP-3 United States Surveillance OP-3C 4[8]
Learjet 35 United States Surveillance 36 4[8] C-36A – JMSDF designation
Transport
Lockheed C-130 Hercules United States Transport C-130R 6[8]
ShinMaywa US-2 Japan Transport / SAR 6[8]
Super King Air United States Utility 90 5[8]
Helicopters
AgustaWestland AW101 Italy / United Kingdom Transport / minesweeper MCH-101 12[8] 1 on order, more will be produced [9]
Mitsubishi H-60 United States / Japan SAR SH-60J 10[10]
ASW SH-60K 73[10]
ASW SH-60L 12 on order[11]
improved version of SH-60K[11]
Trainer aircraft
Fuji T-3 Japan Trainer — 32[8]
Super King Air United States Utility 90 12[8]
P-3 Orion United States Conversion trainer UP-3D 3 [8]
Airbus H135 Germany Helicopter trainer TH-135 15 [8]

Current organization

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The organization of the JMSDF's aviation units is based on that of the US Navy. The main organizational units are Koku Shudan (air groups), Kokugun (air wings), Kōkūtai (air squadrons) and Hikōtai (flights).[4]: 66 

As at mid-2012, the structure of the JMSDF's aviation units was as follows:[4]: 69 

 
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Lockheed UP-3C Orion #9151
 
Kawasaki P-1
 
A JMSDF SH-60J Seahawk helicopter from JDS Haruna lands on board USS Russell in 2007.
 
Japanese MCH-101
 
ShinMaywa US-2

Fleet Air Force (Atsugi Air Base)

 
JMSDF District Forces

Units attached to Naval District destroyer fleets

  • Kure District Fleet
    • Komatsushima Air Squadron (SH-60J, Komatsushima Heliport)
  • Ōminato District Fleet
  • Sasebo District Fleet
  • Yokosuka District Fleet

Air Training Command

  • Shimofusa Air Training Group (Shimofusa Air Base)
    • 203 Air Training Squadron (P-3C)
    • 205 Air Training Squadron (no aircraft)
  • Tokushima Air Training Group (Tokushima Airport)
    • 202 Air Training Squadron (Beechcraft TC-90 King Air, Beechcraft UC-90 King Air)
  • Ozuki Air Training Group (Ozuki Air Field)

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force aviation.

References

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  1. ^ "航空集団" [Fleet Air Force] (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  2. ^ Thompson, Paul (2021-04-01). "JMSDF Primary Air Unit Order of Battle". Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  3. ^ "JMSDF Organization". Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  4. ^ a b c d Gunner, Jerry (July 2012). "Western Pacific Guardians". Air Forces Monthly. No. 292. pp. 66–71.
  5. ^ a b c d e Koda, Yoji (2012). Perspectives on the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force. Canberra: Sea Power Centre - Australia. ISBN 9780642297648.
  6. ^ Lendon, Brad; Wakatsuki, Yoko (2018-12-18). "Japan to have first aircraft carriers since World War II". CNN. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  7. ^ a b "USMC to Fly First F-35B from Japan's Izumo-class Aircraft Carriers". 21 August 2019.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Hoyle, Craig (2023). "World Air Forces 2024". Archived from the original on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  9. ^ Perry, Dominic; Paris2023-06-20T17:01:00+01:00. "Japan signs for more MCH-101 helicopters as MLU kicks off". Flight Global. Retrieved 2023-06-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ a b International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 13, 2024). The Military Balance 2024 (1st ed.). Routledge. p. 279. ISBN 978-1032780047.
  11. ^ a b "Japan successfully completes development of SH-60L ASW helicopter". Navy Naval News Navy Recognition. 2024-01-03. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  12. ^ 厚木航空基地 Retrieved February 8, 2017 (in Japanese)
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