Fleet Air Force (JMSDF)

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

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 JMSDFs 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

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 Role Versions Quantity[8] Note
Land Based Fixed-wing aircraft
Lockheed P-3 OrionMaritime patrol
ELINT
Optical reconnaissance
Equipment test
Electronic warfare trainer		P-3C
EP-3C
OP-3C
UP-3C
UP-3D		68
4
5
1
3
Kawasaki P-1Maritime patrolP-123Planned to replace the Lockheed P-3C Orion. 80 more on order.
KC-130 HerculesUtility transportC-130R6Re entered into service since 2014.[9]
Learjet 35Utility aircraftU-36A4
Beechcraft King AirUtility aircraft/Liaison
Trainer aircraft		LC-90
TC-90		5
28
Fuji T-5Trainer aircraftT-536
ShinMaywa US-2Search and rescueUS-25
Helicopters
Mitsubishi SH-60Maritime helicopterUH-60J
SH-60J
SH-60K		15
42
60		Search and rescue.
Anti-submarine warfare.
Anti-submarine warfare.
AgustaWestland AW101Minesweeping helicopter
Utility helicopter		MCH-101
CH-101		10
2
For icebreaker Shirase.
Eurocopter EC 135Trainer helicopterTH-13515

Current organization

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

References
  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. Gunner, Jerry (July 2012). "Western Pacific Guardians". Air Forces Monthly. No. 292. pp. 66–71.
  5. 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. "USMC to Fly First F-35B from Japan's Izumo-class Aircraft Carriers". 21 August 2019.
  8. "Flightglobal - World Air Forces 2015" (PDF). Flightglobal.com.
  9. "Sale Gives New Life to Excess C-130s". Defense-Aerospace.com. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  10. 厚木航空基地 Retrieved February 8, 2017 (in Japanese)
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