News from Japan
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF)
24 Kokutai at Komatsushima received its first SH-60K anti-submarine helicopter on 17 February 2023. The new Seahawks will replace the unit’s SH-60J fleet in the coming months.
SH-60K 8467 was ferried from Omura to Komatsushima, accompanied by 8473. 8467 had its 22 Kokutai tail marking (its previous unit) removed, however 8473 could still be a 22 Kokutai asset and just acted as a crew ferry.
The SH-60J is still operated by 223 Hikotai, the unit sub-ordinate to 22 Kokutai at Omura and 51 Kokutai at Atsugi. Probably only twelve SH-60Js are still operational out of 103 produced.
Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF)
It looks like 3 Kokudan, with sub-ordinate units 301 and 302 Hikotai operating the F-35A Lightning II from Misawa air base, has been declared combat ready on 22 February 2023.
Ever since the move of 3 Hikotai, operating the Mitsubishi F-2, to Hyakuri air base in January 2020, the QRA missions from Misawa were operated by a detachment of Chitose based 2 Kokudan F-15 Eagles. As of beginning 2023, 3 Kokudan has some thirty F-35As at its disposal.
Gifu Air and Space Museum
The Gifu-Kakamigahara Air and Space Museum received two new inmates in the last week. On 18 February, F-4EJ Kai 07-8431 was transported from Gifu air base to Kakamigahara and with lots of festive activities inducted into the museum. Another new resident is former ATLA (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency) Kawasaki BK117A-4 6001 in its white/red colour scheme.
Beside the F-4EJ guarding the gate of Gifu (87-8409 in the digi camo), two other Phantoms are still at Gifu. 17-8301 is residing in one of the hangars and 77-8393 was recently towed to the overhaul unit of the 2nd Depot. It is missing some fuselage parts (used in a display cockpit section) so its fate looks rather bleak.
Photos: still from JMSDF video (SH-60K) and 岐阜かかみがはら航空宇宙博物館 (@SORAHAKU324 at Twitter)