Japan Air Self Defence Force

Japan Air Self-Defense Force
航空自衛隊
Founded 1954
Country Japan
Size 45,000 personnel (2005 est.)
474 combat aircraft (2005 est.)
Part of Japan Self-Defense Forces
Insignia
Roundel Japan Air Self-Defense Force roundel.svg
Ensign Flag of JASDF.png
Aircraft flown
Electronic
warfare
E-767, EC-1, E-2C
Fighter F-2, F-4EJ, F-15J
Helicopter UH-60J, CH-47J, KV-107
Trainer T-7, T-400, T-4
Transport C-1, KC-767J, C-130H

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (航空自衛隊 Kōkū Jieitai?), or JASDF, is the aviation branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace and other aerospace operations.[1] The JASDF carries out combat air patrols around Japan, while also maintaining an extensive network of ground and air early warning radar systems. The branch also has an aerobatic team known as Blue Impulse and has recently been involved in providing air transport in several UN peacekeeping missions.

The JASDF has an estimated 45,000 personnel and 474 combat ready aircraft as of 2005. Front-line formations include twelve fighter squadrons, one reconnaissance squadron and five transport squadrons.[2]

Contents

History

Formation

Before forming the Japanese Self-Defense Forces after World War II, Japan did not have a separate air force. Aviation operations were carried out by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service and the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service. Following World War II the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy were dissolved and replaced by the JSDF with the passing of the 1954 Self-Defense Forces Law with the JASDF as the aviation branch.

Organization

Major units of the ASDF are the Air Defense Command, Air Support Command, Air Training Command, Air Development and Test Command, and Air Material Command. The Air Support Command is responsible for direct support of operational forces in rescue, transportation, control, weather monitoring and inspection. The Air Training Command is responsible for basic flying and technical training. The Air Development and Test Command, in addition to overseeing equipment research and development, is also responsible for research and development in such areas as flight medicine.

The Air Defense Command has northern, central, and western regional headquarters located at Misawa, Iruma, and Kasuga, respectively and the Southwestern Composite Air Division based at Naha on Okinawa. All four regional headquarters control surface-to-air missile units of both the ASDF and the GSDF located in their respective areas.

  • Prime Minister of Japan
    • Minister of Defense
      • JASDF Chief of Staff / Air Staff Office
        • Air Defense Command: Fuchu, Tokyo
          • Northern Air Defense Force: Misawa, Aomori
            • 2nd Air Wing (Chitose Air Base: 201SQ, F-15J/DJ, T-4; 203SQ, F-15J/DJ, T-4)
            • 3rd Air Wing (Misawa Air Base: 3SQ, F-2A/B T-4; 8SQ, F-2A/B, T-4)
            • Northern Aircraft Control & Warning Wing
            • 3rd Air Defence Missile Group
            • 6th Air Defence Missile Group
          • Central Air Defense Force: Iruma, Saitama
            • 6th Air Wing (Komatsu Air Base: 303SQ, F-15J/DJ, T-4; 306SQ, F-15J/DJ, T-4)
            • 7th Air Wing (Hyakuri Air Base: 302SQ, F-4EJ-Kai, T-4; 305SQ, F-15J/DJ, T-4)
            • Middle Aircraft Control & Warning Wing
            • 1st Air Defence Missile Group
            • 4th Air Defence Missile Group
            • Iwo Jima Air Base Group
          • Western Air Defense Force: Kasuga, Fukuoka
            • 5th Air Wing (Nyutabaru Air Base: 301SQ, F-4EJ-Kai, T-4)
            • 8th Air Wing (Tsuiki Air Base: 304SQ, F-15J/DJ, T-4; 6SQ, F-2A/B, T-4)
            • Western Aircraft Control & Warning Wing
            • 2nd Air Defence Missile Group
          • Southwestern Composite Air Division: Naha, Okinawa
            • 83d Air Wing (Naha Air Base: 204SQ, F-15J/DJ, T-4)
            • Southwestern Aircraft Control & Warning Group
            • 5th Air Defence Missile Group
          • Airborne Early Warning Group: Misawa Air Base(E-2C), Hamamatsu Air Base(E-767)
          • Tactical Reconnaissance Group: Hyakuri Air Base(RF-4E, RF-4EJ)
          • Tactical Fighter Training Group: Nyutabaru Air Base(F-15DJ/J, T-4)
          • Air Defense Missile Training Group: Hamamatsu, Chitose
          • Air Defence Command Headquarters Flight Group (Iruma Air Base: U-4, YS-11EA,YS-11EB, T-4, EC-1)
      • Air Support Command: Fuchu, Tokyo
      • Air Training Command: Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
      • Air Development and Test Command: Iruma Air Base, Saitama
        • Air Development and Test Wing (Gifu Air Base: F-15J/DJ, F-2A/B, C-1FTB, F-4EJ, F-4EJ-kai, T-7, T-4)
        • Electronics Development and Test Group
        • Aeromedical Laboratory
      • Air Material Command: Jujou, Tokyo
        • 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Air Depot
      • Air Staff College
      • Air Communications and Systems Wing
      • Aerosafety Service Group
      • Central Air Base Group
      • Others

Equipment

JASDF F-15J
JASDF RF-4E at Yokota AB.
JASDF Mitsubishi F-2 at Andersen AFB.
Japan Air Self-Defense Force C-130H
JASDF E-767 AWACS at Komaki AB.
JASDF KC-767J at Komaki AB.

The ASDF maintains an integrated network of radar installations and air defense direction centers throughout the country known as the Basic Air Defense Ground Environment. In the late 1980s, the system was modernized and augmented with E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft.

The nation relies on fighter-interceptor aircraft and surface-to-air missiles to intercept hostile aircraft. Both of these systems were improved from the beginning of the late 1980s. Outmoded aircraft were replaced in the early 1990s with more sophisticated models, and Nike-J missiles have been replaced with the modern Patriot PAC-2 system.

The ASDF also provides air support for ground and sea operations of the GSDF and the MSDF and air defense for bases of all the forces. Although support fighter squadrons started being modernized in 1989, they lacked precision-guided weapons for support of ground operations and attacks on hostile ships, and ASDF pilots receive little flight training over oceans to prepare for maritime operations. Base defenses were upgraded in the late 1980s with new surface-to-air missiles, modern antiaircraft artillery and new fixed and mobile aircraft shelters.

They are not allowed to have strategic bombers for that would go against the self defence–only policy.

See also List of military aircraft of Japan

Aircraft inventory

Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service[3] Notes
Boeing 747  United States VIP transport (Japanese Air Force One/Two) 747-400 2
Boeing 767  United States Airborne command and control
Airborne refueling
E-767
KC-767J
4
4 [4]
Gulfstream IV  United States VIP transport U-4 5
Kawasaki C-1  Japan Tactical transport
Electronic warfare
Flight test bed
C-1A
EC-1
C-1FTB
25
1
1
C-130 Hercules  United States Tactical transport C-130H 16
British Aerospace BAe 125  United Kingdom Flight inspection
Search and rescue
U-125
U-125A
3
26
NAMC YS-11  Japan Transport
Flight inspection
Navigation Trainer
Electronic warfare
ELINT
YS-11P
YS-11FC
YS-11NT
YS-11EA
YS-11EB
3
1
3
2
4
Grumman E-2 Hawkeye  United States Airborne early warning E-2C 13
Fuji T-7  Japan Trainer 49
Raytheon Hawker 400  United States Trainer T-400 13
Kawasaki T-4  Japan Trainer 208
Mitsubishi H-60  United States
 Japan
Search and rescue UH-60J 39 3 UH-60J were built by US and remaining UH-60Js built by Mitsubishi under license.
Kawasaki-Vertol 107  Japan Search and rescue KV-107 13
Boeing CH-47 Chinook  United States
 Japan
Transport helicopter CH-47J 16 Built by Kawasaki under license.
Mitsubishi F-2  Japan Fighter
Trainer
F-2A
F-2B
39 [5]
32 [5]
Planned 94 + 4 prototype
F-4 Phantom II  United States
 Japan
Fighter


Reconnaissance
F-4EJ
F-4EJ kai
RF-4E
RF-4EJ
1
90


12
15
2 F-4EJ and RF-4s were built by US, remaining F-4EJs by built Mitsubishi under license. RF-4 version being phased out; equivalent number of F-15 to receive synthetic aperture radar pods
F-15 Eagle  United States
 Japan
Fighter
Trainer
F-15J
F-15DJ
160 [5]
42 [5]
2 F-15J's and 12 F-15DJ's were built by US and the rest were built by Mitsubishi under license.

Other equipment

Future equipment

Aircraft Origin Type Versions Number built Notes
Mitsubishi ATD-X  Japan Demo jet fighter - - Production is to start in 2010–2011, with it due to enter service in 2014.[citation needed]
Kawasaki C-X  Japan Tactical airlift - 1 Entering service in 2010. It is estimated that 30–50 will be produced.
F-X - Fighter - - The Japan Ministry of Defense and JASDF are evaluating the Eurofighter, F-35, F/A-18E/F and F-15FX (a version of the F-15E). A decision has yet to be taken.[6]

Sources: [7] [8]

Past equipment

See also

References and notes

External links

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This page was last modified on 30 January 2010 at 06:10.

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