Japan Air Self-Defense Force

Japan Air Self-Defense Force
航空自衛隊

Japan Air Self-Defense Force emblem
Founded July 1, 1954
Country  Japan
Type Air force
Size 50,324 personnel[1] (2013)
777 aircraft
Part of Japan SDF
Motto(s) "Key to Defense, Ready Anytime!"
Website www.mod.go.jp/asdf
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief PM Shinzō Abe
Minister of Defense Tomomi Inada
Chief of Staff Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano
(Maritime)
Chief of the Air Staff General Yoshiyuki Sugiyama
Insignia
Roundel
Ensign
Aircraft flown
Attack F-2
Electronic
warfare		 E-767, EC-1, E-2C
Fighter F-4EJ, F-15J/DJ, F-2, F-35A
Helicopter UH-60J, CH-47J, KV-107
Interceptor F-15J
Trainer F-15DJ, T-7, T-400, T-4
Transport C-1, C-2, KC-767J, C-130H, Boeing 747-400

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 for other aerospace operations.[2] 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 become involved in providing air transport in several UN peacekeeping missions.

The JASDF had an estimated 50,324 personnel as of 2013, and as of 2013 operated 777 aircraft, approximately 373 of them fighter aircraft.[3]

History

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 later 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 JASDF are the Air Defense Command, Air Support Command, Air Training Command, Air Development and Test Command, and Air Materiel 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 JASDF and the JGSDF located in their respective areas.

Ranks

Officers

Officer & Warrant Officer
（幹部・准尉）
InsigniaGeneral
（統合・航空
幕僚長たる空将）		Lieutenant
General
（空将）		Major
General
（空将補）		 Colonel
（1等空佐）		Lieutenant
Colonel
（2等空佐）		Major
（3等空佐）		 Captain
（1等空尉）		First
Lieutenant
（2等空尉）		Second
Lieutenant
（3等空尉）		Warrant
Officer
（准空尉）
Type A
（甲階級章）
Type B
（乙階級章）
Miniature
（略章）

Enlisted

Enlisted
（曹・士）
InsigniaSenior
Master
Sergeant
（空曹長）		Master
Sergeant
（1等空曹）		Technical
Sergeant
（2等空曹）		Staff
Sergeant
（3等空曹）		Airman
1st Class
（空士長）		Airman
2nd Class
（1等空士）		Airman
3rd Class
（2等空士）		OR-D
Self Defence
Official Cadet
（自衛官候補生）
Type A
（甲階級章）

Type B
（乙階級章）
Miniature
（略章）		 No insignia

Equipment

A RF-4EJ Phantom II

The JASDF 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 PAC-3 system. The JASDF also provides air support for ground and sea operations of the JGSDF and the JMSDF and air defense for bases of all the forces. Base defenses were upgraded in the late 1980s with new surface-to-air missiles, modern anti-aircraft artillery and new fixed and mobile aircraft shelters.

Aircraft

Current inventory

An Mitsubishi F-2 taking off from the runway at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam
Mitsubishi F-15J
A Kawasaki T-4
A CH-47J from Iruma Air Base
Boeing KC-767 refuelling tanker (07-3604) arrives at the 2016 Royal International Air Tattoo, England
Boeing E-767
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service[4] Notes
Combat Aircraft
Mitsubishi F-2 Japan multirole F-2A 64 based on a Lockheed Martin F-16 variant
F-4 Phantom II USA multirole EF/RF-4EJ 71 manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
F-15J Eagle USA air superiority F-15J 154 manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
F-35 Lightning II USA Stealth multirole F-35A 1 42 on order as of December 2015.[4]
AWACS
Boeing 767 USA AWACS E-767 4
E-2 Hawkeye USA AEW E-2C 13 4 on order as of December 2015.[4]
Electronic Warfare
Kawasaki C-1 Japan electronic warfare 1
NAMC YS-11 Japan electronic warfare

calibration

 3

4
Tanker
Boeing KC-767 USA aerial refueling / transport 4 3 KC-46 Pegasus on order as of December 2015.[4]
KC-130 USA aerial refueling KC-130H
Transport
Boeing 747 USA VIP 747-400 2[5] call sign Japanese Air Force One
Gulfstream IV USA VIP 5
Hawker 800 UK search and rescue

calibration

 27

3
Kawasaki C-1 Japan transport 25
Kawasaki C-2 Japan heavy transport 3 20 on order as of December 2015.[4]
C-130 USA transport C-130H 15
NAMC YS-11 Japan transport 2
Helicopters
CH-47 USA transport / utility CH-47J 16 licensed built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries
UH-60 USA utility / transport UH-60J 35 licensed built by Mitsubishi. 40 on order as of December 2015.[4]
Trainer Aircraft
Mitsubishi F-2 Japan conversion trainer F-2B 25
F-15J Eagle USA conversion trainer F-15DJ 45 manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Hawker 400 Japan jet trainer T-1 Jayhawk 13
Fuji T-3 Japan trainer 48
Kawasaki T-4 Japan jet trainer 201
NAMC YS-11 Japan multi engine trainer 3

Air defense

Future Aircraft of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force

Future aircraft

Aircraft Role Versions Quantity Note
Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin Stealth technology Demonstrator 1 prototype Maiden flight in 2016.[6]
Fuji TACOM Air-Launched Multi-Role Stealth UAV TACOM 6 In development and production[7]
F-35 Lightning II 5th generation stealth multirole fighter F-35A *42 *42 on order[8]
RQ-4 Global Hawk Recon UAV RQ-4 *3 *3 on order[9]
E-2D Advanced Hawkeye AEW&C E-2D *4 *4 on order[10]
Boeing 777 VIP transport 777-300ER 2 2 on order

See also

References and notes

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