A key element of Japan's national security is the Air Self-Defense Force (AFF). This structure includes a number of necessary formations and has significant quantities of aviation equipment. So, at its disposal there are several hundred fighters, but the general condition of this fleet is not entirely satisfactory. Plans are being drawn up to upgrade fighter aircraft, and certain steps have already been taken in this direction. The Air Force of Japan plans to build up its combat capability both on its own and with the help of friendly states.
State of the art
Due to the characteristic role of the Armed Forces and the Self-Defense Forces as a whole, the combat component is not too numerous, although it meets the current requirements. Currently, the VSS has a total of 12 squadrons equipped with fighter aircraft. These units are subordinate to the regional air command and are distributed approximately equally among them.
F-4E fighters
It is also necessary to recall the 501st tactical reconnaissance squadron and the tactical fighter training group ("aggressors"). These units are not directly involved in solving combat missions, but they are armed with aircraft similar to those used in other squadrons.
The most massive combat aircraft of the Japanese Air Force is the F-15J / DJ Eagle fighter. These machines are designed in the USA and manufactured under license by the Japanese company Mitsubishi. A total of 189 such aircraft of two modifications are in operation.
Less numerous are the F-2A / B fighters, a licensed version of the American Mitsubishi F-16. The units use 88 such aircraft. In the original fighter role, about fifty F-4E Phantom II aircraft are still used. Also in service there are 13 RF-4J scouts.
The newest, but not the most numerous aircraft of the BCC is the American-made F-35A Lightning II. To date, Japan has received a dozen of these machines. One of them was lost a few days ago. Because of this, the entire Lightning Park is idle on the ground until all the circumstances of the incident are clarified.
F-15J in flight
Fighter aircraft in Japan are quite old. So, the last aircraft of the F-4 line entered service in 1981. Almost immediately after that, the assembly of the F-15J / DJ machines began, which lasted until 1997. Newer F-2s were produced from 1995 to 2011. The existing F-35A were built and transferred to the Japanese Air Force in recent years.
Near future
As you can see, the Japanese Air Force fighter aircraft fleet is in an ambiguous state. Several squadrons have about 330 aircraft of a number of types, including not the most modern ones. Some aircraft are approaching 40 years old, but they still occupy an important place in fighter or reconnaissance aircraft. This state of affairs does not suit the command, and it is making attempts to modernize the Armed Forces.
The fundamental decision to abandon the Phantom-2 family aircraft was made a long time ago, but so far it has not been implemented. The American F-35A was considered as a replacement for such aircraft, but the delivery of this equipment was repeatedly postponed. By now, the United States and Japan have managed to arrange supplies, and now the fate of the F-4 has been decided. As new equipment is received, the existing one will be decommissioned. Also outlined some changes in the structure of the connections, which will operate the new F-35A. The last F-4s are scheduled to be decommissioned in 2020.
F-15J / DJ in the foreseeable future will retain the status of the most massive fighter aircraft in the Japanese Air Force. Until recently, replacing such technology was not possible and therefore related to the distant future. At the end of last year, it became known about the curious plans of the Japanese command in the context of the F-15 aircraft. Tokyo offered Washington to accept some of the F-15J / DJ cash as payment for the delivery of the new F-35s. The American side did not accept this proposal. The seizure of some combat vehicles without immediate and full replacement by others can lead to a drop in Japan's defenses, and the United States does not need such problems from its allies. Thus, the F-15J / DJ remain in service.
A pair of F-2A fighters - licensed version of the F-16
The future of the Japanese Air Force is directly related to the American F-35 fighter. According to the signed contracts, over the next years the Japanese side will receive 105 F-35A and 42 F-35B aircraft. Most of this technology will be manufactured by American industry. 38 fighters will be assembled by Mitsubishi.
To date, orders have only been partially completed. Japan received 12 American-assembled "A" modification aircraft. Besides, problems have already begun. One of the new aircraft crashed on April 9 while flying over the Pacific Ocean. How this incident will affect the further fate of the Japanese F-35 is unknown.
It is assumed that the deliveries of American Lightning aircraft will completely replace the long-obsolete Phantoms, and in the future, reduce the share of F-2s. However, the operation of the remaining F-2 will continue until the thirties. The option of using the F-35A / B as a replacement for the F-15J / DJ is also being considered, but such plans look dubious due to the different purposes of these aircraft.
Next generation
At the moment, the development of Japanese fighter aircraft is directly dependent on imports. The only modern aircraft currently being delivered is designed and built abroad. However, Japan does not stand aside and is also trying to create its own fifth generation fighter. A demonstrator of Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin technologies has already been created and is being tested, and in the future, a full-fledged fighter will be developed on its basis. The latter is now called the F-3.
One of the first F-35A transferred to the Japanese Air Force
Three years ago, in April 2016, the first flight of the ATD-X / X-2 prototype aircraft took place, intended to test the main solutions in the field of fifth generation fighters. In the design of this aircraft, a number of modern solutions were used that are typical for foreign fighters of the latest generation, but have not yet been mastered by Japanese aircraft manufacturers. The issues of creating a radar with AFAR, avionics based on the latest technologies, EDSU with fiber optic lines, etc. were worked out.
Last summer, a fundamental decision was made that determines the further development of the Japanese fifth generation. The X-2 aircraft will remain a flying laboratory for developing new technologies. For future operation in the troops, it is planned to create a completely new machine - the F-3.
According to recent reports, the development, testing and deployment of serial production of the F-3 will take about 10-15 years. The development of a new aircraft is proposed in the framework of cooperation with leading foreign companies that can share technologies. The Japanese military department has already sent out the corresponding invitations.
Requirements for the future F-3 have not yet been formed, but some wishes are already known. It is envisaged to create an air superiority aircraft with a certain potential for work on ground targets. It is planned to order up to 100 of these machines with a total cost of US $ 50 billion. The construction of technology should be completed by the end of the thirties.
The first flight of the experienced X-2
By the time the serial F-3s appear, the Japanese Air Force will have to abandon the morally and physically obsolete F-15J / DJ fighters. Also, by that time, the write-off of newer, but no longer modern, F-2A / B will begin. Thus, with the desired course of events, in the forties and fifties, the American F-35A / B and the jointly developed F-3 will be the basis of the fighter aircraft of the Japanese Air Force. Perhaps by this time, new models will have entered service - most likely, again imported.
Present and future
The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force has about 330 fighters of several types and a small number of structurally similar aircraft for other purposes. A significant part of this fleet is already in need of replacement, but the pace of delivery of new equipment is still insufficient. All this aggravates the current situation, and also pushes the timing of its change to the right.
The upgrade of the Japanese Air Force fighter aircraft is still associated with imports and licensed assembly. Our own projects, despite their courage and importance, are not yet able to give real results. This situation is expected to change in the future, but there are not too many reasons for optimism.
As a result, the fighter aircraft of the Japanese Air Force is in an acceptable state and is capable of solving the assigned tasks, but at the same time there are reasons for serious concern. Tokyo understands this and tries to act according to its needs and capabilities. However, the real results of such actions still look insufficient. Especially against the background of the military-political confrontation with China and the DPRK, as well as unfriendly rhetoric against Russia.
