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 !