Tag Archives: Japan Air Self Defense Force

Marianas Lightning Storm

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Exercise Cope North 2025 has seen at least four different F-35 fifth-gen fighter operators conducting combined operations from Guam. These include the U.S. Air Force (134th Fighter Squadron), Royal Australian Air Force No. 75 Squadron, Japan Air Self Defense Force F-35As, and U.S. Marine Corps F-35B STOVL variants of VMFA-121.

Allies from the United States, Japan, and Australia come together for a group photo on the flight-line in front of three F-35A Lightning IIs to celebrate the end of exercise Cope North 2025 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Feb. 21, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Tala Hunt)

Japan Air Self-Defense Force Col. Takeshi Okubo, flight group commander, 3rd Air Wing, poses for a photo in front of an F-35A Lightning II during exercise Cope North 25 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Jan. 30, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Tala Hunt)

A Royal Australian Air Force maintainer prepares to work on a F-35A Lightning II for exercise Cope North 25, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Jan. 29, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Tala Hunt)

A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II is flanked from top to bottom by a Royal Australian Air Force F-35A, a Japan Air Self Defense Force F-35A, and a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II during a formation over the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility, Feb. 7, 2025, as part of exercise Cope North 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Thomas Hansford)

From left to right, a Royal Australian Air Force F-35A, a U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II, a Japan Air Self Defense Force F-35A, and a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II fly together over the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility during exercise Cope North 2025, Feb. 7, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Caleb Roland)

Also joining the fun were RAAF 33 Squadron’s KC-30 tanker transports and a 2 Squadron E-7A Wedgetail, JASDF E-2D Hawkeyes and a KC-46 refueling tanker, U.S. Navy EA-18G Growlers, and USMC F/A-18C Hornets. Meanwhile, the USAF also had F-16CMs, KC-135s, and E-3s in the air with MH-60S running SAR. In all, some 62 aircraft and 2,300 personnel were surged to Anderson AFB from across the Pacific– with some USAF units coming from as far away as Tinker and Tyndal.

A Royal Australian Air Force E-7 Wedgetail is flanked from top to bottom by a U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon, a RAAF F-35A Lightning II, a USAF F-35A, a Japan Air Self Defense Force F-35A, U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II, a USMC F/A-18C Super Hornet, and followed by a U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler during a formation over the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility, Feb. 7, 2025, as part of exercise Cope North 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Thomas Hansford)

A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail is flanked from left to right by a U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon, a RAAF F-35A Lightning II, a USAF F-35A, a Japan Air Self Defense Force F-35A, a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II, and a USMC F/A-18C Hornet, with a U.S Navy EA-18G Growler in the center rear during a formation flight over the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility as part of exercise Cope North 2025, Feb. 7, 2025.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Thomas Hansford)

As noted by the USAF:

CN25 showcases the importance of cooperation and partnership in maintaining a stable and secure Indo-Pacific region and highlights the U.S. commitment to working with Allies and partners to promote peace and prosperity. The F-35A provides next-generation stealth, enhanced situational awareness, and reduced vulnerability to the realistic combat training and scenarios in CN25.

Meanwhile, B-1B Lancers from the South Dakota-based 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron showed up for the fun as well. Formed up as Bomber Task Force 25-1, they are visiting the Philippines and other countries in the Rim.

A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to the 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., is parked at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, in support of Bomber Task Force 25-1, Feb. 10, 2025. Bomber missions provide opportunities to train and work with our Allies and partners in joint and coalition operations and exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brittany Kenney)

40 Years of Japanese Aggressors

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Formed on 17 December 1981, the Hikou kaihatsu jikkendan (Tactical Fighter Training Group) is the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s dedicated aggressor squadron. Flying Mitsubishi-built T-2 trainers at first, they upgraded to domestically-made F-15DJs in 1990. Like American OPFOR squadrons, they wear a mix of dissimilar schemes meant to mimic Warsaw Pact/NorK/PLAAF warplanes.

Of course, the JASDF has lots of interaction with the real deal on a regular basis, scrambling alert aircraft to intercept Soviet err, Russian Bears as well as dealing with increasingly heavy Chicom traffic in recent years. 

Based at Komatsu Air Base– a former IJN seaplane base with easy access to a large training airspace over the Sea of Japan– the aggressor group is winding up for their 40th-anniversary celebration next month.

The problem is, how do you run a special livery in a squadron full of special liveries? The answer: 40th-anniversary drop tanks!

Japanese Phantom Pharewell

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The Japan Air Self-Defense Force phased out their combat-duty F-4EJ Phantoms when the Samurais of Tactical Fighter Squadron Hitokai 301 took off their “Phantoms Phorever” patches last November. Now, the JASDF has retired the type for good when last week– on St. Patrick’s Day– the last three F-4EJs of the country’s Air Development and Test Wing quietly completed their final sortie.

“The pride and spirit of protecting Japan’s sky for about half a century will surely be passed on to the next generation with the dawn of a new era,” notes the JASDF as the force transitions to the F-35A.

The type made it 49 years with Japan but is still flown across the Tsushima Straits in South Korea not to mention by the Hellenic, Turkish and Iranian air forces.

Phantom Pharefell, Hikotai 301 edition

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Japan Air Self Defense Force is one of the last top-tier air force flying the Vietnam-era F-4 Phantom II with the Samurais of Tactical Fighter Squadron Hitokai 301 retiring their birds over the weekend, as the force transitions to the F-35A.

The squadron was the first JASDF unit to field the Phantom, on 1 August 1972, making it fitting that they are the last to operate them– although it should be stressed that the Japanese still have a few F-4s put back for testing and training missions.

Notably, the JASDF has given several of these F-4EJ “Phinal Phantoms” special paint schemes to commemorate the type’s impressive 48 years of service.

Of note, the Iranians, Greeks, South Koreans, and Turks still fly a total of about 150~ F-4s while the U.S. withdrew their last operational unit, the Marine Reservists of VMFA-321, in 1992 and expended their last QF-4 drone in 2016.