As of the beginning of 2012, the number of personnel of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Forces was about 43,700 people. The aircraft fleet includes about 700 aircraft and helicopters of the main types, of which the number of tactical and multipurpose fighters - about 260 units, light training / attack aircraft - about 200, AWACS aircraft - 17, electronic reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft - 7, strategic refuellers - 4, military transport aircraft - 44.
F-15J tactical fighter (160 pcs.) Single all-weather version of the F-15 fighter for the Japanese Air Force, produced since 1982 by Mitsubishi under license.
Structurally similar to the F-15 fighter, but has simplified electronic warfare equipment. F-15DJ (42) - further development of the F-15J
F-2A / B (39/32 pcs.) - Multi-role fighter developed by Mitsubishi and Lockheed Martin for the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force.
F-2A fighter, photo taken in December 2012. from the Russian reconnaissance Tu-214R
The F-2 was intended primarily to replace the third-generation fighter-bomber Mitsubishi F-1 - according to experts, an unsuccessful variation on the SEPECAT Jaguar theme with insufficient range and low combat load. The appearance of the F-2 aircraft was significantly influenced by the American project General Dynamic "Agile Falcon" - a slightly enlarged and more maneuverable version of the F-16 "fighting Falcon." prototype not only by differences in the design of the airframe, but also by the construction materials used, on-board systems, radio electronics and weapons. Compared to the American aircraft, advanced composite materials were used much more widely in the design of the Japanese fighter, which ensured a decrease in the relative weight of the airframe. In general, the design of the Japanese aircraft is simpler, lighter and more technologically advanced than that of the F-16.
F-4EJ Kai (60 pcs.) - Multipurpose fighter.
Japanese version of the McDonnell-Douglas F-4E. "Phantom" II
Satellite image of Google Earth: aircraft and F-4J Miho airbase
T-4 (200 pcs.) - Light attack aircraft / training, developed by the "Kawasaki" company for the Air Self-Defense Forces of Japan.
The T-4 is used by the Japanese aerobatic team Blue Impulse. The T-4 has 4 suspension assemblies for fuel tanks, machine gun containers and other weapons required for training missions. The design includes the possibility of quick modification into a light attack aircraft. In this version, it is capable of carrying up to 2000 kg of combat load on five hardpoints. The aircraft can be retrofitted to use the AIM-9L Sidewinder air-to-air missile system.
Grumman E-2CHawkeye (13 pcs.) - Aircraft AWACS and control.
Boeing E-767 AWACS (4pcs.)
AWACS aircraft built for Japan, based on passenger Boeing-767
C-1A (25 pcs.) Medium-range military transport aircraft developed by Kawasaki for the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force.
The C-1s form the backbone of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces' military transport aircraft fleet.
The aircraft is designed for air transportation of troops, military equipment and cargo, airborne personnel and equipment by landing and parachute methods, and evacuation of the wounded. The S-1 aircraft has a high swept wing, a circular fuselage, a T-shaped tail unit and a tricycle landing gear retractable in flight. In the front part of the fuselage there is a 5-man crew cabin, behind it there is a cargo compartment 10.8 m long, 3.6 m wide and 2.25 m high.
Both the cockpit and the cargo compartment are pressurized and connected to the air conditioning system. The cargo compartment can carry 60 soldiers with weapons or 45 paratroopers. In the case of transporting the wounded, 36 wounded stretchers and accompanying personnel can be accommodated here. Through the cargo hatch in the rear of the aircraft, the following can be loaded into the cockpit: a 105-mm howitzer or a 2.5-ton truck, or three cars
type "jeep". The landing of equipment and cargo is carried out through this hatch, and paratroopers can also land through the side doors at the rear of the fuselage.
Satellite image of Google Earth: T-4 and C-1A aircraft at Tsuiki airbase
EC-1 (1 pc.) - An electronic reconnaissance aircraft based on the transport S-1.
YS-11 (7 pcs.) - Electronic warfare aircraft based on a medium-range passenger aircraft.
C-130H (16 pcs.) - Multipurpose military transport aircraft.
Boeing KC-767J (4 pcs.) - Strategic refueling aircraft based on Boeing-767.
UH-60JBlack Hawk (39 pcs.) - Multipurpose helicopter.
CH-47JChinook (16 pcs.) - Multipurpose military transport helicopter.
Air Defense: 120 PU SAM "Patriot" and "Improved Hawk".
Satellite image of Google Earth: PU SAM "Patriot" air defense of Japan in the Tokyo area
Satellite image of Google Earth: SAM "Advanced Hawk" air defense of Japan, a suburb of Tokyo
The formation of the current Japanese Air Force began with the adoption on July 1, 1954, of the law establishing the Directorate of National Defense, as well as the land, naval and air forces. The problem of aviation equipment and personnel was solved with American help. In April 1956, an agreement was signed to supply Japan with F-104 Starfighter jet aircraft.
At that time, this multi-role fighter was undergoing flight tests, showed high capabilities as an air defense fighter, which corresponded to the views of the country's leadership on the use of the armed forces "only in the interests of defense."
Subsequently, when creating and developing the armed forces, the Japanese leadership proceeded from the need to ensure the "initial defense of the country against aggression." The subsequent response to a possible aggressor under the security treaty was to be given by the US armed forces. Tokyo considered the deployment of American military bases on the Japanese islands to be the guarantor of such a response, while Japan assumed many of the costs of maintaining the Pentagon's facilities.
Based on the foregoing, the equipping of the Japanese Air Force began.
In the late 1950s, despite the high accident rate, the Starfighter became one of the main fighters of the Air Force in many countries, produced in various modifications, including in Japan. It was the F-104J all-weather interceptor. Since 1961, the Air Force of the Land of the Rising Sun has received 210 Starfighter aircraft, and 178 of them were produced by the famous Japanese concern Mitsubishi under license.
It must be said that the construction of jet fighters in Japan was established back in 1957, when the production (also under license) of American F-86F Saber aircraft began.
F-86F "Saber" of the Japanese Air Defense Forces
But by the mid-1960s, the F-104J began to be regarded as an obsolete machine. Therefore, in January 1969, the Japanese cabinet of ministers decided to equip the country's air force with new interceptor fighters. The American third-generation F-4E Phantom multirole fighter was chosen as a prototype. But the Japanese, when ordering the F-4EJ variant, made it a condition that it be an interceptor aircraft. The Americans did not mind, and all equipment for work on ground targets was removed from the F-4EJ, but the air-to-air weapons were reinforced. Everything is in accordance with the Japanese concept of "only in the interests of defense." The Japanese leadership has demonstrated, at least in conceptual documents, the desire for the country's armed forces to remain the national armed forces, to ensure the security of their territory.
A "softening" of Tokyo's approaches to offensive weapons, including in the Air Force, began to be observed in the second half of the 1970s under pressure from Washington, especially after the adoption in 1978 of the so-called "Guidelines for Japanese-American Defense Cooperation."Prior to that, no joint actions, not even exercises, were conducted by the self-defense forces and American units in Japan. Since then, much, including in the performance characteristics of aviation technology, in the Japanese Self-Defense Forces has been changing in the hope of joint actions. On the still produced F-4EJ, for example, equipment for refueling in the air is installed. The last Phantom for the Japanese Air Force arrived in 1981. But already in 1984, a program was adopted to extend their service life. At the same time, "Phantoms" began to be equipped with bombing means. These aircraft were named Kai.
But this does not mean that the main task of the Japanese Air Force has been changed. It remained the same - providing the country's air defense. That is why, since 1982, the Japanese Air Force began to receive licensed all-weather F-15J interceptor fighters. It was a modification of the fourth-generation American all-weather tactical fighter, the F-15 Eagle, intended for "air superiority." And to this day, the F-15J is the main air defense fighter of the Japanese Air Force (a total of 223 such aircraft were delivered to them).
As you can see, almost always the emphasis in the choice of aviation technology was made on fighters aimed at air defense missions, at winning air superiority. This applies to both the F-104J, and the F-4EJ, and the F-15J.
It was only in the second half of the 1980s that Washington and Tokyo agreed to jointly develop an immediate support fighter.
The validity of these statements has so far been confirmed in the course of collisions in connection with the need to re-equip the country's military aviation fighter fleet. The main task of the Japanese Air Force remains to ensure the country's air defense. Although the task of providing air support for the ground forces and the Navy was also added. This can be seen from the organizational structure of the Air Force. Its structure includes three aviation directions - North, Central and West. Each of them has two fighter aircraft wings, including two squadrons. At the same time, out of 12 squadrons, there are nine air defense and three tactical fighter squadrons. In addition, there is the Southwest Mixed Aviation Wing, which includes another air defense fighter squadron. The air defense squadrons are armed with F-15J, F-4EJ Kai aircraft.
As you can see, the core of the "basic force" of the Japanese Air Force is made up of fighter-interceptors. There are only three direct support squadrons and they are armed with F-2 fighters of joint Japanese-American development.
The current program of the Japanese government to re-equip the country's air force fleet is generally aimed at replacing the outdated Phantoms. Two options were considered. According to the first version of the tender for the new F-X fighter, it was planned to purchase from 20 to 60 fifth-generation air defense fighters similar in performance characteristics to the American F-22 Raptor fighter (Predator, manufactured by Lockheed Martin / Boeing). It entered service with the US Air Force in December 2005.
According to Japanese experts, the F-22 is the most consistent with Japan's defense concepts. An American F-35 fighter was also considered as a backup option, but it is believed that more machines of this type will be needed. In addition, this is a multipurpose aircraft and its main purpose is to strike targets on the ground, which does not correspond to the concept of "only in the interests of defense." However, the US Congress back in 1998 banned the export of "the latest fighter aircraft, which uses all the best achievements" of the United States aviation industry. With this in mind, most other countries buying American fighters are satisfied with the earlier F-15 and F-16 models, or expect to start selling the F-35, which uses the same technologies as the F-22, but is cheaper, more versatile. application and from the very beginning of development was intended for export.
Of the American aviation corporations, Boeing had the closest ties with the Japanese Air Force for many years. In March, he proposed a new and significantly upgraded model, the F-15FX. There are two other Boeing-produced fighters on offer, but they have no chance of success, since much of these aircraft are outdated. What is attractive about Boeing's application for the Japanese is that the corporation officially guarantees assistance in the deployment of licensed production, and also promises to provide Japanese companies with technologies used in the manufacture of aircraft.
But most likely, according to Japanese experts, the winner of the tender will be the F-35. It has almost the same high performance characteristics as the F-22, belongs to the fifth generation fighters and has some capabilities that the Predator does not have. True, the F-35 is still under development. Its entry into the Japanese Air Force, according to various estimates, may begin in 2015-2016. Until then, all F-4s will have served their service lives. The delay in the selection of a new main fighter for the country's Air Force is causing concern in Japanese business circles, since in 2011, after the release of the last of the ordered F-2s, for the first time in post-war Japan, it was necessary, albeit temporarily, to curtail its own fighter construction.
Today in Japan, there are about 1200 companies associated with the production of fighters. They have special equipment and trained personnel. The management of Mitsubishi Jukogiyo, the largest backlog of orders from the Department of Defense, believes that "manufacturing technologies in the defense sector, if not supported, are lost and never revived."
In general, the Japanese Air Force is well equipped, with sufficiently modern military equipment, which is in high combat readiness, and is quite capable of solving the assigned tasks.
The naval aviation of the Maritime Self-Defense Forces (Navy) of Japan is armed with 116 aircraft and 107 helicopters.
The patrol air squadrons are armed with basic patrol aircraft R-ЗС "Orion".
Anti-submarine helicopter squadrons are equipped with SH-60J and SH-60K helicopters.
Anti-submarine SH-60J Japanese Navy
Search and rescue squadrons include three search and rescue teams (three UH-60J helicopters). There is a squadron of rescue seaplanes (US-1A, US-2)
Seaplanes US-1A Japanese Navy
And two electronic warfare squadrons equipped with electronic warfare aircraft EP-3, UP-3D and U-36A, as well as reconnaissance OR-ZS.
Separate aviation squadrons, according to their purpose, solve the tasks of conducting flight tests of aircraft of the Navy, participate in mine-sweeping operations, as well as in measures for airlifting personnel and cargo by air.
On the Japanese islands, within the framework of the bilateral Japanese-American treaty, the 5th Air Force of the US Air Force (headquarters at Yokota airbase) is permanently deployed, which includes 3 aviation wings equipped with the most modern combat aircraft, including the 5th generation F-22 Raptor.
Satellite image of Google Earth: F-22 aircraft of the US Air Force at Kadena airbase
In addition, the US 7th Operational Fleet is constantly operating in the Western Pacific. The headquarters of the commander of the 7th fleet is located in the Yokosuka PVMB (Japan). The fleet's formations and ships are based at the Yokosuka and Sasebo PVMBs, aviation at the Atsugi and Misawa airbases, and the Marine Corps at Camp Butler (Okinawa Island) on a long-term lease of these bases from Japan. The naval forces regularly participate in theater security operations, in joint exercises with the Japanese Navy.
Satellite image of Google Earth: aircraft carrier J. Washington in the Yokosuka naval base
The US Navy Carrier Strike Force is almost permanently located in the region, which includes at least one aircraft carrier.
A very powerful air force is concentrated in the area of the Japanese islands, which is several times superior to our forces in this region.
For comparison, the military aviation of our country in the Far East as part of the Air Force and Air Defense Command, the former 11th Air Force and Air Defense Army is an operational formation of the Air Force of the Russian Federation, with its headquarters in Khabarovsk. There are no more than 350 combat aircraft, most of which are not combat-ready.
In terms of numbers, the Pacific Fleet's naval aviation is about three times inferior to the Japanese Navy's.
