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Japan Air Self-Defense Force
航空自衛隊
Flag of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Founded	1 July 1954; 64 years ago (1954-07-01)[1]
Country	Japan
Type	Air force
Role	Aerial warfare
Size	50,324 personnel (2013)[2] 777 aircraft
Part of	Japan Self-Defense Forces
Garrison/HQ	Ichigaya, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Motto(s)	"Key to Defense, Ready Anytime!"
Website	www.mod.go.jp/asdf
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	PM Shinzō Abe
Minister of Defense	Takeshi Iwaya
Chief of Staff, Joint Staff	General Kōji Yamazaki
Chief of the Air Staff	General Yoshinari Marumo
Insignia
Roundel
Emblem
Aircraft flown
Attack	F-2, F-35A, F-4EJ
Electronic warfare	E-767, EC-1, E-2C, EC-2
Fighter	F-4EJ, F-15J/DJ, F-2, F-35A
Helicopter	UH-60J, CH-47J
Interceptor	F-15J
Trainer	F-15DJ, T-7, T-400, T-4
Transport	C-1, C-2, KC-767J, C-130H, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777-300ER

Air Defense Identification Zone of Japan

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (航空自衛隊, Kōkū Jieitai), JASDF, also referred to as the Japanese Air Force,^[3] is the air warfare branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace and for other aerospace operations.^[4] It is the de facto air force of Japan. The JASDF carries out combat air patrols around Japan, while also maintaining a network of ground and air early-warning radar systems. The branch also has an aerobatic team known as Blue Impulse and has provided air transport in UN peacekeeping missions.

The JASDF had an estimated 50,324 personnel as of 2013^[update], and as of 2013^[update] operated 777 aircraft, approximately 373 of them fighter aircraft.^[5]

History

Japan did not have a separate air force before World War II. Aviation operations were carried out by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service and the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (Kōkūtai). Following World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy were dissolved. They were replaced by the JSDF with the passing of the 1954 Self-Defense Forces Act. It established the JASDF as the aviation branch.

Until 2015, women were banned from becoming fighter jet and reconnaissance aircraft pilots. The first female pilot of a F-15 joined the ranks, along with three other female pilots currently in training, in 2018.^[6]

The number of ASDF jets that scrambled against unidentified aircraft was 999 times in fiscal 2018. That's the second highest on record. A total of 638 scrambles (64%) were versus Chinese aircraft and 343 scrambles (34%) were versus Russian aircraft.^[7]

Organization

Japan Air Self-Defense Force Air Defense Command Headquarters (2012)

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.

A Mitsubishi F-15J

A Mitsubishi F-2B

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, Okinawa Prefecture. All four regional headquarters control surface-to-air missile units of both the JASDF and the JGSDF located in their respective areas.

Boeing KC-767J tanker in 2017.

• 
  Prime Minister of Japan
  
  • 
    Minister of Defense
    
    
    
    • 
      JASDF Chief of Staff / Air Staff Office
      
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        Air Defense Command: Yokota, Fussa, Tokyo
        
        
        
        • Northern Air Defense Force: Misawa, Aomori
          
          
          
          • 2nd Air Wing (Chitose Air Base: 201SQ, F-15J/DJ, T-4; 203SQ, F-15J/DJ, T-4)
          
          
          • 3rd Air Wing (Misawa Air Base: 3SQ, F-2A/B T-4)
          
          
          • 
            Northern Air Command Support Flight, (Misawa, T-4)
          
          
          • Northern Aircraft Control & Warning Wing
          
          
          • 3rd Air Defense Missile Group
          
          
          • 6th Air Defense Missile Group
          
          
          
          
        
        
        • Central Air Defense Force: Iruma, Saitama
          
          
          
          • 6th Air Wing (Komatsu Air Base: 303SQ, F-15J/DJ, T-4; 306SQ, F-15J/DJ, T-4)
          
          
          • 
            7th Air Wing (Hyakuri Air Base: 301SQ, F-4EJ-Kai, T-4; 302SQ, F-4EJ-Kai, T-4)
          
          
          • 
            Central Air Command Support Squadron (Iruma Air Base T-4, U-4)
          
          
          • Central Aircraft Control & Warning Wing
          
          
          • 1st Air Defense Missile Group
          
          
          • 4th Air Defense Missile Group
          
          
          • 
            Iwo Jima Air Base Group
          
          
          
          
        
        
        • Western Air Defense Force: Kasuga, Fukuoka
          
          
          
          • 5th Air Wing (Nyutabaru Air Base: 305SQ, F-15J/DJ, T-4)
          
          
          • 8th Air Wing (Tsuiki Air Base: 6SQ, F-2A/B, T-4; 8SQ, F-2A/B, T-4)
          
          
          • 
            Western Air Command Support Squadron, (Kasuga, T-4)
          
          
          • Western Aircraft Control & Warning Wing
          
          
          • 2nd Air Defense Missile Group
          
          
          
          
        
        
        • Southwestern Air Division: Naha, Okinawa
          
          
          
          • 
            9th Air Wing (Naha Air Base: 204SQ, F-15J/DJ, T-4; 304SQ, F-15J/DJ, T-4
          
          
          • 
            Southwestern Air Command Support Squadron, T-4)
          
          
          • Southwestern Aircraft Control & Warning Group
          
          
          • 5th Air Defense Missile Group
          
          
          
          
        
        
        • 
          Airborne Early Warning Group: Hamamatsu Air Base (602SQ, E-767)
          
          • Airborne Early Warning and Surveillance Group: Misawa Air Base (601SQ, E-2C), Naha Air Base (603SQ, E-2C)
          
          
        
        
        • Tactical Reconnaissance Group: Hyakuri Air Base (501SQ, RF-4E, RF-4EJ)
        
        
        • Air Tactics Development Wing (Yokota Air Base)
          
          
          
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            Tactical Fighter Training Group: Komatsu Air Base (F-15DJ/J, T-4)
          
          
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            Electronic Warfare Squadron Iruma Air Base (EC-1, YS-11EB)
          
          
          • 
            Electronic Intelligence Squadron Iruma Air Base (YS-11EB)
          
          
          
          
        
        
        • 
          Air Rescue Wing
          
          
          
          • Detachments: Chitose, Matsushima, Ashiya, Akita, Hyakuri, Nyutabaru, Niigata, Hamamatsu, Naha, Komatsu, Komaki (Training Squadron) (UH-60J, U-125A)
          
          
          • Helicopter Airlift Squadrons: Iruma (CH-47JA), Kasuga (CH-47JA), Misawa (CH-47JA), Naha (CH-47JA)
          
          
          
          
        
        
        • Air Defense Missile Training Group: Hamamatsu, Chitose
        
        
        
        
      
      
    
    
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      Air Support Command: Fuchū Air Base, Tokyo
      
      
      
      • 
        1st Tactical Airlift Group (Komaki Air Base: 401SQ, C-130H, KC-130H; 404SQ, KC-767J)
      
      
      • 
        2nd Tactical Airlift Group (Iruma Air Base: 402SQ, C-1, U-4)
      
      
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        3rd Tactical Airlift Group (Miho Air Base: 403SQ, C-1, C-2; 41SQ, T-400)
      
      
      • Air Traffic Control Service Group
      
      
      • Air Weather Group
      
      
      • 
        Flight Check Squadron (Iruma Air Base: U-125,YS-11FC)
      
      
      • Special Airlift Group: (701SQ Chitose Air Base: B747-47C as Japanese Air Force One)
      
      
      
      
    
    
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      Air Training Command: Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
      
      
      
      • 
        1st Air Wing (Hamamatsu Air Base: 31SQ, T-4; 32SQ, T-4)
      
      
      • 
        4th Air Wing (Matsushima Air Field: F-2B; 11SQ, T-4 Blue Impulse 21SQ)
      
      
      • 
        11th Flying Training Wing (Shizuhama Air Base: 1SQ, T-7; 2SQ, T-7)
      
      
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        12th Flight Training Wing (Hofu kita Air Base: 1SQ, T-7; 2SQ, T-7)
      
      
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        13th Flight Training Wing (Ashiya Air Base: 1SQ, T-4; 2SQ, T-4)
      
      
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        Fighter Training Group (Nyutabaru Air Base: 23SQ (Ex-202SQ), F-15DJ, T-4)
      
      
      • 
        1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th Technical School
      
      
      • Air Basic Training Wing
      
      
      • Air Training Aids Group
      
      
      • Air Officer Candidate School
      
      
      
      
    
    
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      Air Development and Test Command: Iruma Air Base, Saitama
      
      
      
      • 
        Air Development and Test Wing (Gifu Air Base: F-15J/DJ, F-2A/B, C-1FTB, C-2, F-4EJ, F-4EJ-kai, T-7, T-4)
      
      
      • Electronics Development and Test Group
      
      
      • Aeromedical Laboratory
      
      
      
      
    
    
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      Air Material Command: Jujou, Tokyo
      
      • 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Air Depot
      
      
    
    
    • Air Staff College
    
    
    • Air Communications and Systems Wing
    
    
    • Aerosafety Service Group
    
    
    • Central Air Base Group
    
    
    • Others
    
    
    
    
  
  

Ranks

Officers（幹部）

Insignia	General 空将 （統合幕僚長 および 航空幕僚長）	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
Type A （甲階級章）
Type B （乙階級章）
Miniature （略章）

Warrant Officer and Enlisted（准尉および曹士）

Insignia	Warrant Officer 准空尉	Senior 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

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 Patriot PAC-2 and 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 antiaircraft artillery and new fixed and mobile aircraft shelters.

Aircraft

Current inventory

A JASDF F-35

An E-2C Hawkeye landing at Misawa Air Base

A RF-4EJ Phantom II

A CH-47J from Iruma Air Base

A Kawasaki T-4

Future aircraft

Projects currently in development are the Mitsubishi X-2, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, and the Fuji TACOM UAV^[14][15]

See also

• Fighter units of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force


• Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force aviation


• Military ranks and insignia of the Japan Self-Defense Forces

References

External links

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

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  Japan Air Self-Defense Force (Japanese) (English)