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A look at Japanese air power — and potential procurements

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  • A Japan Air Self-Defense Force Mitsubishi F-4EJ Kai Phantom II of 302 Squadron lands at Hyakuri Air Base in early December 2018. The Phantoms of this squadron will soon be retired and replaced with the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. (Mike Yeo/Staff)
  • Hyakuri in Ibaraki prefecture, north of Tokyo, is home to all three squadrons of Japan’s Phantoms. In addition to the F-4EJ Kai fighter, the JASDF also operates the RF-4E reconnaissance version with 501 Squadron. This squadron will retire its Phantoms in fiscal 2020, which ends for Japan on March 31, 2021. (Mike Yeo/Staff)
  • To commemorate 302 Squadron transitioning to the F-35, a pair of the unit’s Phantoms were given special commemorative paint schemes, one in a black base coat and the other in white, as shown here during an air show held at the base in early December. (Mike Yeo/Staff)
  • Boeing showcased a model of its F-15 Advanced Eagle at the Japan International Aerospace Exhibition held in Tokyo in late November. The aircraft was carrying 18 medium-range air-to-air missiles. Japan is planning to upgrade its F-15Js through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program with new electronic warfare capabilities, radar, the ability to carry more missiles and the integration standoff land-attack missiles. (Mike Yeo/Staff)
  • Japan’s ShinMaywa displayed a model of its US-2 amphibious aircraft at the exhibition. The company is continuing small-scale production, and hoping that interest from India and Indonesia results in contracts. (Mike Yeo/Staff)
  • A General Atomics model of its Avenger unmanned aircraft system is shown. Japanese media reported the country wants to buy the Avenger for improved maritime domain awareness. (Mike Yeo/Staff)
  • Kawasaki Heavy Industries model of its C-2 airlifter had a see-through fuselage to display the carrying capacity of its cargo hold, in this case showing it carrying an Airbus Helicopters H215 medium-lift helo. (Mike Yeo/Staff)
  • A Kawasaki P-1 anti-submarine aircraft, used by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, was on the static display at a Hyakuri air show. Japan is continuing its marketing effort for the aircraft, although it faces a tough challenge at the upper end of this market from the established Boeing P-8 Poseidon. (Mike Yeo/Staff)
  • Lockheed Martin displayed a model of the C-130J Hercules airlifter in Japanese markings at the Japan International Aerospace Exhibition. The country’s Finance Ministry said this year that it has asked its defense counterpart to consider buying a cheaper airlifter instead of the indigenous C-2. (Mike Yeo/Staff)
  • Boeing’s presence at the Japan International Aerospace Exhibition mainly consisted of civilian and commercial aircraft, although it displayed models of its KC-46A tanker, F-15 Advanced Eagle and AH-64E Apache helicopter gunship. Japan has already selected the KC-46 for its next tanker, having been cleared to buy four aircraft in 2016 and awarding a contract for one of them in late 2017. (Mike Yeo/Staff)
  • A Kawasaki T-4 trainer of the JASDF’s Central Air Command Support Squadron lands at Iruma Air Base, western Tokyo, in late November. (Mike Yeo/Staff)
  • A NAMC YS-11EB electronic intelligence gathering aircraft taxis for takeoff at Iruma Air Base, western Tokyo, in late November. Japan currently flies four of these aircraft and is developing a replacement aircraft for this role using the C-2 airlifter. (Mike Yeo/Staff)