Hyakuri & Chitose Air Base photo essay.

Japan 2020 Hyakuri & Chitose Air Bases All images : (c) DM Parody 2020 Trip organisers: Centre Of Aviation Photography

Japan 2020 Mitsubishi F-4EJ & RF-4J Phantom II The single Japan Air Self-Defense Force squadron that is currently operating the Mitsubishi F-4EJ Phantom II is due to transition to the Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter jet in early 2019, with another squadron to follow the year after. Aircraft from a third squadron will be retired at the same time, ending what will then be Japan’s 48-year association with the type.

Mitsubishi built 138 of Japan’s 140 F-4EJs under licence from aerospace company McDonnell Douglas between 1971 and 1981. They were mostly similar to the F-4Es used by the United States at that time, although the Japanese aircraft had their in-flight refueling and ground-attack capabilities removed to align with Japan’s defensive posture.

An upgrade program in the 1980s saw the reintroduction of ground-attack capabilities in the form of anti-ship missiles, bombs and rockets. An improved, lightweight radar was also fitted along with an improved avionics suite. Less than 100 Phantoms were upgraded, and were known as F-4EJ Kai (Improved) in JASDF service.

Japan also acquired 14 RF-4Es built by McDonnell Douglas to serve in a reconnaissance role. These, together with 17 F-4EJs modified to the RF-4EJ standard, capable of carrying a variety of external reconnaissance pods, make up Japan’s third Phantom squadron at Hyakuri. The unit, 501 Squadron, is also due to retire the Phantom in 2020, although it’s unclear if the unit will then transition to a new aircraft type.

Japan is introducing a fleet of 42 F-35As to replace the Phantom, with pilots training on the fifth-generation fighter at Misawa Air Base in the north of Japan’s main island of Honshu as deliveries of Japan’s F-35s continue apace.

The 301 and 302 squadrons are due to permanently move to Misawa following the transition to the F-35.

Specifications (F-4E) General characteristics Crew: 2 Length: 19.2 m Wingspan: 11.7 m Height: 5m Wing area: 49.2 m2 Aspect ratio: 2.77 Airfoil: NACA 0006.4–64 root, NACA 0003-64 tip Empty weight: 13,757 kg Gross weight: 18,824 kg Max takeoff weight: 28,030 kg Maximum landing weight: 16,706 kg Fuel capacity: 7,550 l internal,

12,620 l with 2x 1,400 l external tanks on the outer wing hardpoints and

either a 2,300 or 2,300 l tank for the center-line station.

Powerplant: 2 × General Electric J79-GE-17A after-burning turbojet engines,

52.96 kN thrust each dry, 79.38 kN with afterburner

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Performance Maximum speed: Maximum speed: Cruise speed: Combat range: Ferry range: Service ceiling: Rate of climb: Lift-to-drag: Wing loading: Thrust/weight: Takeoff roll: Landing roll:

2,370 km/h at 40,000 ft Mach 2.23 940 km/h 680 km 2,699 km 60,000 ft 41,300 ft/min 8.58 380 kg/m2 0.86 at loaded weight, 0.58 at MTOW 1,370 m at 24,410 kg 1,120 m at 16,706 kg

Armament E-model has a 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 Vulcan cannon mounted internally under the nose, 640 rounds Up to 8,480 kg of weapons on nine external hardpoints, including general-purpose bombs, cluster bombs, TVand laser-guided bombs, rocket pods, air-to-ground missiles, anti-ship missiles, gun pods, and nuclear weapons.

Reconnaissance, targeting, electronic countermeasures and baggage pods, and external fuel tanks may also be carried.

4× AIM-9 Sidewinders on wing pylons, Israeli F-4 Kurnass 2000 carried Python-3, Japanese F-4EJ Kai carry AAM-3 4× AIM-7 Sparrow in fuselage recesses, upgraded Hellenic F-4E and German F-4F ICE carry AIM-120 AMRAAM, UK Phantoms carried Skyflash missiles[180] 6× AGM-65 Maverick 4× AGM-62 Walleye 4× AGM-45 Shrike, AGM-88 HARM, AGM-78 Standard ARM 4× GBU-15 18× Mk.82, GBU-12 5× Mk.84, GBU-10, GBU-14 18× CBU-87, CBU-89, CBU-58 Nuclear weapons, including the B28EX, B61, B43 and B57

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Japan 2020 Mitsubishi F-2 The Mitsubishi F-2 is a multirole fighter derived from the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, and manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Lockheed Martin for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, with a 60/40 split in manufacturing between Japan and the United States. Production started in 1996 and the first aircraft entered service in 2000. The first 76 aircraft entered service by 2008, with a total of 98 airframes produced. The first active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar on a combat aircraft was the J/APG-1 introduced on the Mitsubishi F-2 in 1995. The F-2 is nicknamed “Viper Zero”, a reference to the F-16’s semi-official nickname of “Viper” and the Mitsubishi A6M Zero.

General Electric, Kawasaki, Honeywell, Raytheon, NEC, Hazeltine, and Kokusai Electric were among the primary component sub-contractors. Lockheed Martin supplied the aft fuselage, leading-edge slats, stores management system, a large portion of wingboxes (as part of two-way technology transfer agreements), and other components. Kawasaki built the midsection of the fuselage, as well as the doors to the main wheel and the engine, while the forward fuselage and wings were built by Mitsubishi. Avionics were supplied by Lockheed Martin, and the digital fly-by-wire system was jointly developed by Japan Aviation Electric and Honeywell (formerly Allied Signal). Contractors for communication systems and IFF interrogators included: Raytheon, NEC, Hazeltine, and Kokusai Electric. Final assembly was done in Japan, by MHI at its Komaki-South facility in Nagoya.

Larger wings give an aircraft better payload and maneuverability in proportion to its thrust, but also tend to add weight to the airframe in various ways. More weight can have negative effects on acceleration, climbing, payload, and range. To make the larger wings lighter the skin, spars, ribs and cap of the wings were made from graphite-epoxy composite and co-cured in an autoclave. This was the first application of co-cured technology to a production tactical fighter. This technology for the wings encountered some teething problems, but proved to be a leading-edge use of a technology that provides weight savings, improved range, and some stealth benefits.

This technology was then transferred back to America, as part of the program’s industrial partnership.

The F-2 has three display screens, including a liquid crystal display from Yokogawa.

Specifications (F-2A) General characteristics Crew: 1 (F-2B: 2) Length: 15.52 m Wingspan: 11.125 m over missile launchers

10.8 m without missile launchers Wing area: 34.84 m2 Aspect ratio: 3.3 Empty weight: 9,527 kg

F-2B: 9,633 kg Gross weight: 13,459 kg clean Max takeoff weight: 22,100 kg Maximum landing weight: 18,300 kg Fuel capacity: 4,637l maximum internal fuel 4,588 l usable External Fuel capacity: 5,678 l maximum - (1x 1,135.5 l + 2x 2,271.25 l drop-tanks) Powerplant: 1 × General Electric F110-IHI-129 afterburning turbofan, 76 kN (17,000 lbf) thrust dry,

131 kN (29,500 lbf) with afterburner

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Performance Maximum speed: Maximum speed: Combat range: Service ceiling: Wing loading: Thrust/weight:

2,124 km/h Mach 1.7 at high altitude, Mach 1.1 at low altitude 833 km 59,000 ft 634.3 kg/m2 (129.9 lb/sq ft) maximum 0.606

Armament 20 mm JM61A1 cannon, plus maximum weapon load of 8,085 kg: Rocket pod JLAU-3/A AAMs:Mitsubishi AAM-3, Mitsubishi AAM-4, Mitsubishi AAM-5, AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-ground weapons include: ASM-1 and ASM-2 anti-ship missiles, various free-fall bombs with GCS-1 IIR seeker heads, JDAM others: J/AAQ-2 FLIR, AN/AAQ-33

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Mitsubishi H-60

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Bell UH-1 Iroquois “Huey”

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Hawker 800 - U125

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Kawasaki T-4

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Japan 2020 Mitsubishi F-15J The Mitsubishi F-15J/DJ Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather air superiority fighter based on the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle in use by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). The F-15J was produced under license by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The subsequent F-15DJ and F-15J Kai variants were also produced. Japan is the largest customer of the F-15 Eagle outside the United States.In addition to combat, F-15DJ roles include training. The F-15J Kai is a modernized version of the F-15J. In June–July 1975, the Japan Defense Agency (JDA, now Ministry of Defense) examined the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle as one of the 13 candidates for the replacement of the F-104J/DJ Starfighter and F-4EJ Phantom II. A single-seat F-15C and a twin-seat F-15D were evaluated at Edwards Air Force Base, and in December 1975, the F-15 was announced the winner, with the government intending to purchase 187 F-15J/DJs. By April 1978, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was designated as the primary contractor and licensing for the F-15C/D was achieved.

After congressional review, the Department of Defense (DoD) withheld the aircraft’s electronic warfare and engine systems from the licensing. Initially, the aircraft were produced in the U.S. and exported to Japan. This initial export production contributed to aircraft development under the defense industry of Japan while facilitating base production of aircraft, achieving the goal of producing a fighter to Japan’s requirements.

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) acquired 203 F-15Js and 20 F-15DJs, of which 2 F-15Js and 12 F-15DJs were built by McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis, Missouri. Dubbed the “Peace Eagle” by the DoD FMS program, the first F-15J built in St. Louis was delivered to the United States Air Force for its first flight on 4 June 1980, and a subsequent cruise on 15 July to Japan. Additionally, 8 F-15Js were manufactured in large components and shipped to Japan for final assembly by Komaki of Mitsubishi, the first of these (serial number 12–8803) making its maiden flight on 26 August 1981. Companies divided the remainder share and produced it under license from 1981, with final assembly of aircraft performed by Mitsubishi.

In 1980, the Japanese government applied for access to advanced technology through the U.S.-Japan Forum (S&TF) but this was rejected. The JDA and the DoD held annual meetings about relaxation of the regulation after a program was started. In these meetings, the DoD official gave an answer that permitted access to initially prohibited technology of various types including composite material.

In the latter period of 1981, the first F-15J/DJ aircraft were sent to 202nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, which was reorganized as an Eagle FTU and renamed the 23 Flying Training Squadron at Nyutabaru base on 21 December 1982. The JASDF developed a plan to form the first squadron after the KAL007 shootdown by a Soviet Su-15 on 1 September 1983. In March 1984, new F-15Js began replacing the 203rd Tactical Fighter Squadron’s F-104Js at Chitose Air Base, located across the La Pérouse Strait from the Soviet fighter base on Sakhalin Island.

On 24 December 2018, it was announced that Japan is seriously considering selling their F-15s to the U.S. in order to acquire funds to purchase F-35s. The U.S. would then consider selling those F-15s to friendly countries with weaker air forces.

F-15J/DJs are identical to F-15C/Ds aside from the ECM, radar warning system, and nuclear equipment. The AN/ ALQ-135 Internal Countermeasures System is replaced by the indigenous J/ALQ-8 and the AN/ALR-56 Radar Warning Receiver is replaced by the J/APR-4. The engine is the Pratt & Whitney F100 turbofan, produced under license by IHI Corporation. Some aircraft still have an inertial measurement unit, an old type of the Inertial navigation system. All F-15J/DJs have two UHF radios, which are also VHF capable.

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The F-15J is characterized by an indigenous data link, but they do not support Link 16 FDL mounted by USAF F-15Cs. It works as a basic bidirectional link with the Japanese ground-controlled intercept network, and it is limited because it is not a true network.

Mitsubishi received the F-15C/D Multistage Improvement Program (MSIP) and in 1987 began upgrading the F-15J/ DJs. Improvements included an uprated central computer, engines, armament control set and added the J/APQ-1 countermeasures set. The F100-PW-220 (IHI-220) was upgraded to the F100-PW-220E (IHI-220E) with a digital engine electronic control retrofit. Differences in appearance from earlier F-15Js include the J/ALQ-8 ICS with an ICS antenna mounted under the intake. The J/APQ-4 RWR antenna position on the F-15J/DJs is the same as F-15C/Ds, but the lens of F-15J/DJ MSIPs are black rather than white for F-15C/Ds. General characteristics Crew: 1 Length: 19.43 m Wingspan: 13.05 m Height: 5.63 m Wing area: 56.5 m2 Airfoil: root: NACA 64A006.6; tip: NACA 64A203 Empty weight: 12,700 kg Gross weight: 20,200 kg Max takeoff weight: 30,845 kg Fuel capacity: 6,100 kg internal Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney F100-220 (or −100) afterburning turbofan engine,

77.62 kN (17,450 lbf) thrust each dry, 111.2 kN (25,000 lbf) with afterburner Performance Maximum speed:

Service ceiling: Rate of climb: Wing loading: Thrust/weight:

1,650 km/h M2.5+ at high altitude 1,450 km/h M1.2 at low altitude 66,000 ft 254 m/s 358 kg/m2 1.12

Armament Guns: 1× 20 mm M61 Vulcan Hardpoints: ten with provisions to carry combinations of: Missiles:

Mitsubishi AAM-3

Mitsubishi AAM-4

Mitsubishi AAM-5

AIM-9 Sidewinder

AIM-7 Sparrow Other: Mk 82 General-Purpose Bomb,

CBU-87 Cluster bomb

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Boeing 777-300ER - Japanese Air Force One

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Lockheed C-130H Hercules

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Japan Coast Guard Bombardier Q300

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Boeing CH-47 Chinook

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All images are copyrighted : (C) 2020 DM Parody No reproduction is permitted without prior written consent.

David M Parody www.dotcom.gi/photos david.parody@gmail.com