| Unit Name: | Fleet Air Force |
| Native Name: | Japanese: 航空集団 |
| Dates: | 1 September 1961 |
| Country: |  Japan |
| Type: | Naval aviation |
| Size: | 11,000 |
| Colours: | --> |
| Colours Label: | --> |
| Anniversaries: | 1 September |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Roundel |
In the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), the Fleet Air Force (Japanese: 航空集団|kōkū shūdan) is its naval aviation branch, responsible for both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft[1] [2] and headquartered in Naval Air Facility Atsugi.[3] 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.[4]
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.[5] During the 1980s, the JMSDF's force of 82 Neptunes (most of which were the locally built Kawasaki P-2J variant) was replaced by about 100 Lockheed P-3 Orions.[5] The JMSDF's first combat helicopters were the Mitsubishi HSS-2 (the Japanese variant of the Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King).[5] These helicopters were replaced by SH-60Js during the 1990s.[5]
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.[5] 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.[4]
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 IIs.[6] 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 [JMSDF] escort vessel.” [7] The current plan is for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to operate the aircraft once delivered.[7]
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.
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maritime Patrol | ||||||
| Kawasaki P-1 | Japan | ASW / maritime patrol | 33[8] | 3 on order successor to the P-3 Orion | ||
| Lockheed P-3 Orion | United States | ASW / maritime patrol | P-3C | 42 | Being replaced by Kawasaki P-1 | |
| Lockheed EP-3 | United States | ELINT | EP-3 ELINT | 5 | ||
| Lockheed OP-3 | United States | Surveillance | OP-3C | 4 | ||
| Learjet 35 | United States | Surveillance | 36 | 4 | C-36A – JMSDF designation | |
| Transport | ||||||
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules | United States | Transport | C-130R | 6 | ||
| ShinMaywa US-2 | Japan | Transport / SAR | 6 | |||
| Super King Air | United States | Utility | 90 | 5 | ||
| Helicopters | ||||||
| AgustaWestland AW101 | Italy / United Kingdom | Transport / minesweeper | MCH-101 | 12 | 1 on order, more will be produced [9] | |
| Mitsubishi H-60 | United States / Japan | SAR | SH-60J | 10[10] | ||
| ASW | SH-60K | 73 | ||||
| ASW | SH-60L | 12 on order[11] improved version of SH-60K | ||||
| Trainer Aircraft | ||||||
| Fuji T-3 | Japan | Trainer | — | 32 | ||
| Super King Air | United States | Utility | 90 | 12 | ||
| P-3 Orion | United States | Conversion trainer | UP-3D | 3 | ||
| Airbus H135 | Germany | Helicopter trainer | TH-135 | 15 | ||
The organization of the JMSDF's aviation units is based on that of the US Navy. The main organizational units are Koku Shudan (air groups), Kokugun (air wings), Kōkūtai (air squadrons) and Hikōtai (flights).[4]
As at mid-2012, the structure of the JMSDF's aviation units was as follows:[4] Fleet Air Force (Atsugi Air Base)
Units attached to Naval District destroyer fleets
Air Training Command