JASDF

The establishment of the Japanese Air Self Defence Force as we know it took place on July 1st 1954.During the second half of the nineteen fifties the NKJ expanded to a sizeable air force with the backbone being formed by 180 US built and 300 Mitsubishi built F-86's.In 1962 a new era started for the NKJ when the Lockheed F-104J Starfighter was selected as the successor to the F-86 Sabre in the air defence role. Between 1962 and 1967 210 Mitsubishi F-104J's and 20 F-104DJ's were delivered equipping seven squadrons.

The seventies saw the development and introduction of a number of aircraft types which still can be seen on the inventory such as the Kawasaki C-1 which succeeded the ageing fleet of C-46's as well as the Mitsubishi F-1 and T-2 which replaced the last F-86F's in the close air support and advanced training role. In 1977 the F-15J was already selected as the successor to the F-4EJ fleet for which deliveries were not even completed by that time !

The nineties saw the retirement of the fleet of T-33's and T-1's by Kawasaki T-4's, the KV 107 by the UH-60J, the Mu-2 by the U-125 and the Beech 65 by the U-4 Gulfstream. At this time the Mitsubishi F-1 and T-2 is progressively being replaced by the Mitsubishi F2.

Aircraft of the JASDF :

Fighters/Attack :

- F-15J Strike Eagle

The F-15, the commanding fighter built for the U.S. Air Force, was developed by McDonnell Douglas with its first flight in 1972. In Japan, it was introduced into the Air Self-Defense Force, and manufactured and licensed as the F-15J, with MHI as the primary contractor. Since 1980 exactly 213 fighters of this type have been purchased. Apart from a dozen two seaters, all Eagles of the JASDF have been produced under license at Mitsubishi. Low production rates pushed the price of an individual aircraft up to 180 million DM. Since there is no replacement in sight for the F-15J, the Air Force is planning a modernisation program, which will include improving the radar and the main computer. Additionally an improved ECM system and FLIR-Sensor will be fitted. The maiden flight of a prototype is planned for 2001.

- F-4 Phantoms

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force received 154 Japanese F-4EJ Phantoms including the final Phantom built worldwide. All Japanese F-4EJs are optimized for the air defense role and used to equip six interceptor squadrons. In total 96 F-4EJs have been upgraded to the F-4EJ "Kai" (new) standard and will serve the JASDF well into the next millenium. For recce 14 RF-4EJs have been received, later boosted with 17 F-4EJs converted to reconnaissance Phantom as RF-4EJ-Kai.

- Mitsubishi F-1

The Mitsubishi F1 attack aircraft, which is similar in configuration to the Jaguar, is the combat version of the T-2 trainer. The rear cockpit of the T-2 is faired over with the space used for additional fuel. Other modifications include the addition of two wing pylons and a fuselage pylon, and the 20mm Vulcan cannon of the T-2A armament trainer along with combat avionics. The F-1 is a capable attack aircraft though with relatively short range, and can be used in interception missions carrying the AIM-9 missile. A total of 77 aircraft were built.

- Mitsubishi F-2

The F-2 support fighter aircraft for the Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) is the result of a joint Japan and USA development programme.The Japan Defence Agency plans to procure a total of 130 F-2 aircraft, with production deliveries from the year 2000 to beyond 2010. The requirement is for 83 single-seater and 47 two-seater aircraft. The F-2A is the single-seat version and the F-2B is the two-seat version.Flight trials of the prototypes were successfully completed by 1997, and the aircraft entered production in 1998. The first production aircraft was delivered to the Japanese Defence Agency in September 2000, and by the end of March 2001, 18 F-2 fighters had been delivered.The cockpit is equipped with three multifunction displays, including a liquid crystal display from Yokogawa.The aircraft is capable of deploying the Raytheon AIM-7F/M medium-range Sparrow air-to-air missile, the Raytheon AIM-9L short-range Sidewinder and the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries AAM-3 short-range air-to-air missile.

Transport Aircraft :

- B-747 Boeing

Mainly used in the JASDF for VIP duties. 2 B-747 are in service in the JASDF.

- Kawasaki C-1

The Kawasaki C-1 was designed to replace the C-46. The first prototype flew on November 12, 1970. The second prototype flew on January 16, 1971. The first pre-production aircarft flew in 1972. The second pre-production aircraft flew in 1974. The first production C-1A (number 48-1008) flew in December 1974. By 1981, a total of 31 C-1A had been delivered. The C-1KA, featuring a redesigned nose, upgraded avionics, first flew in 1985. The EC-1 variant carries surveillance equipment.

- C-130J Hercules

The Lockheed Martin C-130 is the JASDF principal tactical cargo and personnel transport aircraft, and the C-130J Hercules is the latest model, featuring a glass cockpit, digital avionics and a new propulsion system with six-bladed propeller. Improvements built into the C-130J, which entered production in 1997, have enhanced the performance of the aircraft in terms of range, cruise ceiling time to climb, speed and airfield requirements

- C-47J Chinook

The CH-47D Chinook helicopter carries out transportation of troops, artillery, supplies and equipment to the battlefield. Other roles include medical evacuation, aircraft recovery, parachute drop, search and rescue, disaster relief, firefighting and heavy construction.

Support Aircraft :

- E-2C Hawkeye

The fighters are supported by 13 Northrop-Grumman E-2C Early Warning Aircraft, which are stationed in Misawa. The primary role of the E-2C Hawkeye aircraft supplied by Northrop Grumman is as an all weather airborne early warning aircraft to the naval task force. From an operating altitude above 25,000 feet, the Hawkeye warns the naval task force of approaching air threats and provides threat identification and positional data to fighter aircraft.

- Boeing E-767 AWACS

The Boeing 767 AWACS Airborne Warning and Control System has been selected by Japan to carry out airborne surveillance and command and control (C2) operations for tactical and air defence forces. The surveillance system is based on a flexible, multi-mode radar which enables AWACS to separate maritime and airborne targets from ground and sea clutter radar returns.Following studies of the most suitable follow-on aircraft for the AWACS mission, Boeing announced in December 1991 that it would offer a modified 767 jet as the platform for the system.All four aircraft entered service with the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) in May 2000.The AWACS radar provides a 360-degree view of the area. At operating altitudes it can detect targets more than 320km away.

- UH-60J Rescue Helicopter

The Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) UH-60J is a rescue helicopter based on the U.S. Army multi-purpose helicopter, the UH-60A "BLACK HAWK".UH-60J (JASDF/JMSDF) is equipped with infrared night vision, and weather radar navigation systems for better mobility

Sources :

	JASDF Homepage
	Scramble : JASDF

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