The meaning of JASDF’s airlift operation in Iraq and JASDF’s future challenge Atsushi Hikita Col. Japan Air Self Defense Force Visiting Fellow, The Stimson.

The meaning of JASDF’s airlift operation in Iraq and JASDF’s future challenge

Atsushi HikitaCol. Japan Air Self Defense Force

Visiting Fellow, The Stimson Center

・ Overview of JASDF airlift operation in Iraq

・ The features of the mission

・ JASDF’s own efforts for mission

・ The meaning of the operation

・ The future challenge for JASDF

・ New Defense Program Guidelines and the implications for JASDF’s capability

・ Conclusion

Contents

Overview of JASDF airlift operation in Iraq

- Based on the Iraq Special Measures Law and its Basic Plan

- Operation period: Mar. 2004 – Dec. 2008

- Airlift from Kuwait to Ali, Baghdad, Erbil etc.

- C-130H × 3 with around 200 personnel

- Total transportation 46,500 personnel and 673 tons of cargo

Erbil

Baghdad

Ali

Ali Al Salem

The features of the mission

- Airlift mission under surface-to-air threat

- Construction of base facilities abroad

- Rotation of personnel affected the entire JASDF

- Deployment to unfamiliar nation

Airlift mission under SA threat

- Mission with safety

- Refurbishment of C-130H for self protection

- Special training for landing under the threat

Construction of base facilities abroad

- HQ building

- Offices

- Hanger

- Barracks

- Mess hall

- Medical room

- Bath

- etc

Rotation of personnel affected the entire JASDF

- Every four months

- More than 200 personnel

- Air crew and mechanics

- Doctors

Deployment to unfamiliar area

- Aircraft operation in desert environment

- Health and mental care

- Culture, custom and language

JASDF’s own efforts for mission

- Preparation before deployment

- Organization

- Intelligence

- Coordination between units

Preparation before deployment

Many things to prepare for

- anti-threat

- operation in the desert environment

- operation support

- personnel and their family

Organization

Chain of Command

Commander, ASC

Director, APD

Commander, ALW

ASC Staff

SQ Commander

CAOC

Air Base in Kuwait

US Air Base in SW Asia

Organization

2 senior officers have authorities to make decision to go or no-go

Commander, ALW Director, APD

threatsrequirements

weatherA/C statuscrew

Intelligence

- Operational information provided by CAOC

- Effort to access the information

- Spending much time to analyze

Coordination between units

Good coordination between 2 authorities for missions

Commander, ALW Director, APD

The meaning of the operation

- Understood world military standard

- Learned to operate with coalition members

- Thought about JASDF’s capability for international operations

The future challenge for JASDF

- Enhancement of intelligence capability

- Accumulation of experience

- Response to various contingencies

- Tight relationship with US military forces

National Defense Program Guidelines

(NDPG) for FY 2011 and beyond

Organization, Equipment and Force Disposition

- Response to attacks on off-shore island Strengthening air defense capability

- Strengthening capabilities for international activities Strengthening air transport capability

- Enhancement of intelligence function Strengthening diverse information-collecting capabilities

Mid-term Defense Program (FY2011-FY2015)

JASDF

- Second fighter SQ to Naha Air base

- New JASDF Yokota Air base

- Procurement of new transport aircraft

- Procurement of new fighter

- Upgrade of AWACS

- Modernization of F-15 and F-2

- Modernization of UH-60J

- etc

Overview of Ｃ－２ (tentative name)Overview of Ｃ－２ (tentative name)

JakartaSingapore

Delhi

Islamabad

Honolulu

CairnsPort Moresby

Male

Anchorage Seattle

PayloadC-1 ： 2.6t 　C-130 ： 5.0tC-2:12t

RangeRange

C-1 ： 1,700km

C-130 ： 4,000km

C-2 ： 6,500km

C-1C-130C-X

C-1(8t)

C-2(30t)

C-130(20t)

Size(max payload)

Size(max payload)

TechnologyTechnology

- Glass cockpit- Fly by wire- tactical flight management system- Aerial refueling system- Self protection system- High precision navigation system- etc

FY01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

C-2 development schedule

1st Flight

Design & Trial Manufacture

Strength Test

Flight Test

Start of Procurement Operation

Mid-term Defense Program (FY2011-FY2015)

JASDF

- Second fighter SQ to Naha Air base

- New JASDF Yokota Air base

- Procurement of new transport aircraft

- Procurement of new fighter

- Upgrade of AWACS

- Modernization of F-15 and F-2

- Modernization of UH-60J

- etc

09FY10

FY11 12 13 14 15 16

F-X selection schedule

Start of procurement

1st IPT Mtg.

Selection

Budget request

Final determination

Operation ?

RFP

Mid-term Defense Program (FY2011-FY2015)

JASDF

- Second fighter SQ to Naha Air base

- New JASDF Yokota Air base

- Procurement of new transport aircraft

- Procurement of new fighter

- Upgrade of AWACS

- Modernization of F-15 and F-2

- Modernization of UH-60J

- etc

Conclusion

Golan Heights1996-

East Timor1999-2004

Cambodia1992-1993

Mozambique1993-1995

Iraq2003-2008

Nepal2007-

Sudan2008-

Indian Ocean2008-2010

Gulf of Aden2009-

Persian Gulf1991

1990’s

2000’s

We should prepare for the future operations.2010’s -

Thank you for your kind attention !