Fleet Air Force (JMSDF)


In the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, the Fleet Air Force is its naval aviation branch, responsible for both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft and headquartered in Naval Air Facility Atsugi. 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.

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. During the 1980s, the JMSDF's force of 82 Neptunes was replaced by about 100 Lockheed P-3 Orions. The JMSDF's first combat helicopters were the Mitsubishi HSS-2. These helicopters were replaced by SH-60Js during the 1990s.
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. 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.
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 II]s. 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 escort vessel.” The current plan is for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to operate the aircraft once delivered.

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.

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, Kokugun, Kōkūtai and Organization of the [Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service#Hikōtai|Hikōtai].
As at mid-2012, the structure of the JMSDF's aviation units was as follows:
Fleet Air Force
  • Fleet Air Wing 1
  • *Air Patrol Squadron 1
  • *Maintenance and Supply Squadron 1
  • *Air Station Squadron Kanoya
  • Fleet Air Wing 2
  • *Air Patrol Squadron 2
  • *Maintenance and Supply Squadron 2
  • *Air Station Squadron Hachinohe
  • Fleet Air Wing 4
  • *Air Patrol Squadron 3
  • *Maintenance and Supply Squadron 4
  • *Air Station Squadron Atsugi
  • *Air Station Iwoto
  • **Auxiliary Air Facility Minamitorishima
  • Fleet Air Wing 5
  • *Air Patrol Squadron 5
  • *Maintenance and Supply Squadron 5
  • *Air Station Squadron Naha
  • Fleet Air Wing 21
  • *Air ASW Helicopter Squadron 21
  • *Air ASW Helicopter Squadron 23
  • *Air ASW Helicopter Squadron 25
  • *Helicopter Rescue Squadron 73
  • **Helicopter Rescue Detachment Ominato
  • **Helicopter Rescue Detachment Iwoto
  • *Maintenance and Supply Squadron 21
  • *Air Station Squadron Tateyama
  • Fleet Air Wing 22
  • *Air ASW Helicopter Squadron 22
  • *Air ASW Helicopter Squadron 24
  • *Air Rescue Helicopter Squadron 72
  • **Helicopter Rescue Detachment Kanoya
  • **Helicopter Rescue Detachment Tokushima
  • *Maintenance and Supply Squadron 22
  • *Air Station Squadron Omura
  • Fleet Air Wing 31
  • *Air Rescue Squadron 71
  • *Air Reconnaissance Squadron 81
  • *Air Training Support Squadron 91
  • *Maintenance and Supply Squadron 31
  • *Drone Maintenance Squadron
  • *Air Station Squadron Iwakuni
  • Air Development Squadron 51
  • Air [Transport Squadron 61]
  • Mine Countermeasures Helicopter Squadron 111
  • Air Repair Squadron 1
  • Air Repair Squadron 2
  • Air Control Service Group
  • Mobile Construction Group
Units attached to Naval District destroyer fleets
  • Kure District Fleet
  • *Komatsushima Air Squadron
  • Ōminato District Fleet
  • *Ōminato Air Squadron
  • *Ōminato Flight
  • Sasebo District Fleet
  • *Ōmura Air Squadron
  • Yokosuka District Fleet
  • *Shirase Flight
Air Training Command
  • Shimofusa Air Training Group
  • *203 Air Training Squadron
  • *205 Air Training Squadron
  • Tokushima Air Training Group
  • *202 Air Training Squadron
  • Ozuki Air Training Group
  • *201 Air Training Squadron
  • **211 Air Training Squadron