Japan Air Self-Defense Force
| Akita |
| Ashiya |
| Chitose |
| Fukuoka |
| Gifu |
| Hamamatsu |
| Hofu |
| Hyakuri |
| Iruma |
| Kanazawa/Komatsu |
| Matsushima |
| Miho |
| Misawa |
| Nagoya |
| Naha |
| Niigata |
| Nyutabaru |
| Tsuiki |
| Utsunomiya |
| Yaizu/Shizuhama |
When an anniversary is taking place, the Japanese forces are renowned for applying extra markings on their aircraft, the airshow at Naha in December 2015 was no exception. This time the theme was the establishment of 9 Kokudan (Air Wing)
Naha 13 December 2015,
Reinier Schreurs
This Akita U-125A is performing the SAR demo at Nyutabaru. The first rescue variant of the U-125, the successor for the Mitsubishi MU-2,was delivered in 1995 and low rate deliveries continued till early May 2011 when 12-3028 was delivered.
Nyutabaru, 5 December 2015,
Internet
The unit or base name is given on the white sticker below the Koku Kyunandan badge.
Internet
The UH-60J in the blue colours unfortunately lack the exact unit or base name below the Koku Kyunandan badge on the cabin doors, therefore not all units in the database will be correct. A visiting UH-60 tends to go in the books as belonging to the local SAR-unit.
Hamamatsu 9 April 2010, Hans Rolink
Although shown here in the special 60th anniversary of the JASDF scheme, it is an example to show how the normal red/white colours of 13 Hiko Kyoikudan look like, tail would be red with the blue badge.
Naha 14 December 2014, Reinier Schreurs
T-4 201 Hikotai
Hyakuri, 21 April 2010, Menno Teunisse
One of 203 Hikotai's F-15DJs seen landing at Chitose in typical autumn sky and backdrop.
Chitose, 28 October 2014,
Jochem Manders
The JASDF Air Defence Command or Koku Sotai has divided its airspace geographically into four regions, each one parented by its own Air Defence Force HQ. The Western Air Defence Force Headquarter is located at Kasuga and its HQ Support Flight is at nearby Fukuoka Airport. As many as four T-4s are on strength, so hardly worth a visit by itself, however the military part also hosts a Heli Airlift Squadron with some CH-47Js.
Tsuiki 13 November 2008, Remco Broersma
Besides dedicated rescue helicopters and aircraft the Koku Kyunandan also operates sixteen CH-47J Chinook helicopters. The helos are co-based with the four Air Defence Headquarters Support units at Misawa, Iruma, Kasuga and Naha and provide the JASDF with a VTOL transport capability.
Naha 21 October 2012, Reinier Schreurs
C-1FTB Hiko Kaihatsu Jikken Dan
Gifu, 9 April 2010, Menno Teunisse
F-4EJ Kai Hiko Kaihatsu Jikken Dan
Gifu, 9 April 2010, Menno Teunisse
A pair of 1 Kokudan T-4s landing at homebase Hamamatsu. These examples are on strength of 31 Kyoiku Hikotai, as indicated by the blue line under the black/yellow checkers.
Hamamatsu 20 November 2008, Marcel J. van Bielder
T-7 12 Hiko Kyoikudan
Hofu, 13 April 2010, Menno Teunisse
F-2B 3 Hikotai
Misawa, 6 April 2009, Hans Rolink
Thirtyone locally developed Kawasaki C-1s were delivered to the JASDF between 1971 and 1981. Once serving three squadrons being 401 Hikotai at Komaki, 402 Hikotai at Iruma and 403 Hikotai at Miho, the type is now only in transport use with 402 Hikotai and numbers are rapidly dwindling.
Nyutabaru, Marcel J. van Bielder
YS-11 Hiko Tenkentai
Atsugi, 19 April 2010, Menno Teunisse
F-15J 303 Hikotai
Komatsu, 16 April 2010, Menno Teunisse
F-15J 306 Hikotai
Komatsu, 1 November 2009, Dietmar Fenners
T-4 306 Hikotai
Komatsu, 16 April 2010, Menno Teunisse
The aggressors moved from Nyutabaru to Komatsu on 6 June 2016. Normally five or six Eagles are seen active, the remainder on some sort of maintenance.
Nyutabaru, Marcel J. van Bielder
T-400 41 Kyoiku Hikotai
Miho, 15 April 2010, Menno Teunisse
T-4 Hokubu Shien Hikohan
Misawa, 6 April 2009, Menno Teunisse
From 1983 till 1998 the E-2C Hawkeye was the sole AEW platform in the JASDF. Thirteen aircraft were ordered between 1983 and 1994 initially serving the 601 Hikotai at Misawa before the unit was redesignated into the Hiko Keikai Kanshitai on 31 March 2005. The type has been augmented by four E-767s which entered service in 1998 and 1999 and are based at Hamamatsu. Another unit re-designation occured on 20 April 2014 when the Misawa unit was upgraded to group status with two sub-ordinate units, 601 Hikotai at Misawa and 603 Hikotai at Naha.
Marcel J. van Bielder
The first five F-35As, of which four were produced in the USA at Ft.Worth (TX), operated from Luke AFB (AZ) with Det.2 of 944th OG to train Japanese pilots and groundcrew. All were flown to Japan.
Luke AFB (AZ), 7 March 2017, Frits Jongerman
C-130H 401 Hikotai
Atsugi, 8 April 2010, Menno Teunisse
The South West Air Defence Force has its own HQ Support Flight. One of its T-4s is seen here starting up the engines with the flight-crew keeping the hands in the air to ensure the safety of the ground-crew. Note this T-4 is now flying with 204 Hikotai.
Naha 23 January 2011,
Reinier Schreurs
Naha offers a great mix of civil and military traffic. A 204 Hikotai dual F-15DJ taxies in after performing a demo between civil operations. Normal complement for a Hikotai is two or three duals, exceptions being the Eagle units at Nyutabaru.
Naha,
23 January 2011,
Reinier Schreurs
A pair of 204 Hikotai T-4s departing Naha to begin their demo.
Naha 13 December 2015,
Reinier Schreurs
This 304 Hikotai Eagle is captured at the quay of its former base Tsuiki. The unit moved to Naha in January 2016 and joined 9 Kokudan. All three unit-badges of the Wing's units are toned-down, and therefore hard to recognise from a distance.
Tsuiki 29 October 2009, Tony Roper
603 Hikotai officially has its own squadron badge, however as the aircraft are rotated frequently with the Misawa unit, only the Group badge is carried.
Naha,
Roy Colbers
The Naha SAR unit operates a couple of UH-60Js able to be fitted with a refuelling boom.
Naha, 14 December 2014,
Reinier Schreurs
Beside the obvious exceptions, being the training units, normally a hikotai has three T-4s for liaison duties.
Hyakuri, Marcel J. van Bielder
Probably the most famous photo spot at Tsuiki, the quay, where this 6 Hikotai F-2A was captured. 6 Hikotai was the second frontline unit to transition to the F-2, unfortunately withdrawing the Mitsubishi F-1/T-2. In adverse weather conditions, getting the serials of the F-2 can be quite challenging.
Tsuiki 29 October 2009, Tony Roper
8 Hikotai took up residence at Tsuiki during July/August 2016 after almost fourty years Misawa as home-base.
Misawa, 6 April 2009, Menno Teunisse
U-125 Hiko Tenkentai
Kanoya, 11 April 2010, Menno Teunisse
11 Hiko Kyoikudan or Flying Training Wing was the last unit to fly with the T-3, the predecessor of the T-7,in the training role. Some T-3s kept on flying at Gifu till April 2007.
Shizuhama 20 November 2008, Joost de Bruin