Mine Countermeasures Helicopter Squadron 111 (JMSDF) explained
| Unit Name: | Mine Countermeasures Helicopter Squadron 111 |
| Native Name: | 第111航空隊 |
| Dates: | February 16, 1974 - present |
| Allegiance: | Fleet Air Force |
| Colours: | --> |
| Colours Label: | --> |
| Aircraft Helicopter Multirole: | MCH-101 |
is a squadron of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. It operates MCH-101 aircraft.[1] [2]
As of 2016 there were seven MCH-101 aircraft in service with the squadron and plans for a total of 11. There were also discussions for the purchase for over a dozen additional aircraft.[3]
History
Two retired MH-53E helicopters of the squadron were sold to the US in 2015 for their components. The US was running short of parts for its own fleet of the aging aircraft.[4] [5]
Current aircraft
- 10 AgustaWestland MCH-101 helicopters (2008–present)[6]
Aircraft operated
Notes and References
- Web site: JMSDF Order of Battle . Thompson . Paul . September 1, 2017 . J-HangarSpace . October 13, 2017 .
- Web site: 航空機 . . . October 13, 2017 .
- Web site: Japan eyeing fresh order of AW101 helicopters . . June 22, 2016 . flightglobal.com . October 13, 2017 .
- News: Hixenbaugh . Mike . May 28, 2015 . U.S. Navy buys old helicopters from Japan for spare parts . The Virginian-Pilot . October 13, 2017 .
- News: . U.S. to buy parts for MH-53 Sea Dragon helicopters from Japan . . May 28, 2015 . October 13, 2017 .
- https://web.archive.org/web/20221206231056/https://www.mod.go.jp/j/publication/wp/wp2022/pdf/R04shiryo.pdf Defence of Japan 2022 (Annual White Paper). p.53.
