Japanese muscle at Akeno where this 5th Anti-Tank Helicopterunit Cobra is stationed. 92 AH-1S Cobras have served the JGSDF of which about 60 remain active today. Besides the write offs, a number of Cobras are stored inside the Kanto Depot at Kasumigaura.

Akeno, 16 April 2009, Hans Rolink

Akeno (RJOE)

RWY 04/22, 13/31     POS 34°32'00"N 136°40'20"E     ELEV 20 ft

Top Level Component Squadron Aircraft Type(s) Unit Code Badge
Chubu Homentai
Central Army

Chubu Homen Kokutai
Central Army Aviation Group
5 Taisensha Herikoputātai
5th Anti Tank Helicopter Unit
Honbu Zukitai
Headquarter Squadron
OH-1 VATH


1 Hikotai AH-1S VATH


2 Hikotai AH-1S VATH
Chubu Homentai
Central Army
10 Shidan
10th Division
10 Hikotai UH-1J X
Rikujo Sotai
Ground Component Command
Koku Gakko
Aviation School
Akeno Honko
Akeno Main School
AH-1S
UH-2
UH-60JA
TH-480
S


Kyoiku Shien Hikotai
School Support Squadron
AH-1S
OH-1 (stored)
UH-1J
CH-47J/JA
UH-60JA
SD
Rikujo Sotai
Ground Component Command

Kenkyu Honbu
Research HQ
Kaihatsu Jikkendan
Developement and Test Brigade
Hiko Jikkentai
Air Test Squadron
OH-1
UH-2
TE

The UH-1J on this picture is the third Huey variant in use with the JGSDF. 90 UH-1Bs and 133 UH-1Hs preceded this latest variant which was developed by Fuji Heavy Industries. Production stopped in 2012 after building 130 examples. Both earlier variants have been completely retired. The UH-1J in the picture is operated by the Koku Gakko at Akeno, indicated by the code S on the cabin door. All training helicopters have the last two or three of the serial in white on nose and fuselage.

Komaki, 10 October 2009, Michiel Vermeer

The planned successor for the aging Cobra fleet was supposed to be the AH-64, however budget cuts limit the JGSDF to only replace one Anti-Tank Helicopterunit with the locally produced Apache. Only thirteen were procured and after one example crashed in February 2018, the remainder of the fleet was grounded. Slowly the Apaches are returning to service and most of the active ones are now operating with 1 Sento Herikoputatai from Metabaru.

Akeno, 16 April 2009, Hans Rolink

Asahikawa (RJCA)

RWY 08/26     POS 43°47'40"N 142°21'54"E     ELEV 377 ft

Top Level Component Squadron Aircraft Type(s) Unit Code Badge
Hokubu Homentai
Northern Army
2 Shidan
2nd Division
2 Hikotai UH-1J II
Gifu (RJNG)

RWY 10/28     POS 35°23'39"N 136°52'08"E     ELEV 128 ft

Component Company Factory Aircraft Type(s) Unit Code Badge
Overhaul facilities
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Kawasaki Gifu Overhaul on:
OH-1
CH-47J/JA

Developed and build by Kawasaki at Gifu, the OH-1 Ninja has fully replaced the OH-6D in the observation role within the HQ flights of the Anti-Tank Helicopter squadrons and the various HQ flights of the Army Aviation squadrons. However the crash of a Ninja in February 2015 resulted in the grounding of the type and only by the end of 2019, some returned to flying status.

Hachinohe, 1 September 2007, Mori Masayoshi

Hachinohe (RJSH)

RWY 07/25     POS 40°33'07"N 141°28'02"E     ELEV 152 ft

Top Level Component Squadron Aircraft Type(s) Unit Code Badge
Tohoku Homentai
North Eastern Army

Tohoku Homen Kokutai
North Eastern Army Aviation Group
2 Taisensha Herikoputātai
2nd Anti Tank Helicopter Unit
Honbu Zukitai
Headquarter Squadron
OH-1 IIATH


1 Hikotai AH-1S IIATH


2 Hikotai AH-1S IIATH
Tohoku Homentai
North Eastern Army
9 Shidan
9th Division
9 Hikotai UH-1J IX

UH-1J IX

Hachinohe, 1 September 2007, Mori Masayoshi

Hofu (RJOF)

RWY 01/19, 12/30     POS 34°02'04"N 131°32'47"E     ELEV 7 ft

Top Level Component Squadron Aircraft Type(s) Unit Code Badge
Chubu Homentai
Central Army
13 Ryodan
13th Brigade
13 Hikotai UH-1J XIII
Kasumigaura (RJAK)

RWY 06/24     POS 36°02'05"N 140°11'34"E     ELEV 85 ft

Top Level Component Squadron Aircraft Type(s) Unit Code Badge
Rikujo Sotai
Ground Component Command
Koku Gakko
Aviation School
Kasumigaura Kou
Kasumigaura School
AH-1S
UH-1J
UH-2
CH-47J/JA
SK

Storage facility
Kanto Depot Various surplus JGSDF aircraft and helicopters.
Kasuminome (RJSU)

RWY 14/32     POS 38°14'08"N 140°55'23"E     ELEV 23 ft

Top Level Component Squadron Aircraft Type(s) Unit Code Badge
Tohoku Homentai
North Eastern Army
Tohoku Homen Kokutai
North Eastern Army Aviation Group
Honbu Zukitai
Headquarter Squadron
No aircraft assigned NE
Tohoku Homentai
North Eastern Army

Tohoku Homen Kokutai
North Eastern Army Aviation Group
Tohoku HomenHerikoputātai
North Eastern Helicopter Unit
Honbu Zukitai
Headquarter Squadron
UH-1J NEH


1 Hikotai UH-1J NEH


2 Hikotai UH-1J NEH

AH-1S IVATH

Kisarazu, 4 October 2009, Mori Masayoshi

UH-60JA IHB

Kisarazu, 4 October 2009, Mori Masayoshi

Kisarazu (RJTK)

RWY 02/20     POS 35°23'54"N 139°54'35"E     ELEV 10 ft

Top Level Component Squadron Aircraft Type(s) Unit Code Badge
Tobu Homentai
Eastern Army

Tobu Homen Kokutai
Eastern Army Aviation Group
4 Taisensha Herikoputātai
4th Anti Tank Helicopter Unit
Honbu Zukitai
Headquarter Squadron
OH-1 IVATH


1 Hikotai AH-1S IVATH


2 Hikotai AH-1S IVATH
Rikujo Sotai
Ground Component Command
1 Herikoputadan
1st Helicopter Brigade
102 Hikotai UH-60JA IHB


Tokubetsu Yuso Herikoputatai
Special Air Transport Squadron
EC.225LP STH


Renraku Teisatsu Hikotai
Communication and Recon Squadron
LR-2 LR
Rikujo Sotai
Ground Component Command

1 Herikoputadan
1st Helicopter Brigade
1 Yuso Herikoputagun
1st Helicopter Transport Wing
103 Hikotai
KATORI
CH-47JA HGPIII


104 Hikotai
AZUMA
CH-47JA HGPIV


105 Hikotai
AKAGI
CH-47JA HGPV


106 Hikotai
KAZUSA
CH-47JA HGPVI

Yuso Kokutai
Transport Aviation Group
107 Hikotai V-22


108 Hikotai V-22
Last CH-47J left Kisarazu on 19 July 2021.

The successor for the KV-107 in the JGSDF is the CH-47J and CH-47JA Chinook. Pictured is a CH-47J of which 34 were delivered from about 1986 onwards until superseded by the CH-47JA. This 104 Hikotai aircraft seen departing to form the annual mass flight pass has the new flying owl badge.

Kisarazu, 4 October 2009, Mori Masayoshi

CH-47JA production started in the early nineties and deliveries continue to date with more than twenty delivered by early 2009. This Chinook version is equiped with a weather radar nose and the larger side pods. The 'HGPV' indicates that the aircraft on this picture is on strength of 105 Hikotai. The AKAGI badge does have some similarity with the long-nosed goblin head on the 304 Hikotai badge.

Kisarazu, 4 October 2009, Michiel Vermeer

Three EC-225LPs are operated by the Tokubetsu Yuso Hikotai at Kisarazu. The helicopters replaced the AS-332L in 2007 and are tasked with the transportation of VIPs. The original Super Pumas are now stored in the Kanto Depot at Kasumigaura, awaiting sale.

Kisarazu, 4 October 2009, Michiel Vermeer

Kumamoto (RJFT)

RWY 07/25     POS 32°50'14"N 130°51'19"E     ELEV 623 ft

Top Level Component Squadron Aircraft Type(s) Unit Code Badge
Seibu Homentai
Western Army
Seibu Homen Kokutai
Western Army Aviation Group
Honbu Zukitai
Headquarter Squadron
LR-2 W
Seibu Homentai
Western Army

Seibu Homen Kokutai
Western Army Aviation Group
Seibu Homen Herikoputātai
Western Helicopter Unit
3 Hikotai
KINGFISHERS
CH-47JA WH
Seibu Homentai
Western Army
8 Shidan
8th Division
8 Hikotai UH-60JA VIII
Rikujo Sotai
Ground Component Command

1 Herikoputadan
1st Helicopter Brigade
Yuso Kokutai
Transport Aviation Group
109 Hikotai
YAGIRI
CH-47JA T IX
It now looks like 3 Hikotai 'Kingfishers' has NOT stood down and 109 Hikotai is a separate unit.

Home for this Chinook is Takayubaru, part of the civil Kumamoto airport. It belongs to 3 Hikotai of the Seibu Homen Herikoputatai. This unit has three Hikotais, 1 and 2 Hikotai reside at main base Metabaru. 3 Hikotai was the last unit in the JGSDF to operate the KV-107 and replaced it with the CH-47JA. Co-based at the military side is 8 Hikotai, a unit not part of Seibu Homen Herikoputatai as it is the HQ flight of 8 Shidan.

Kanoya, 11 April 2010, Menno Teunisse

Metabaru (RJDM)

RWY 04/22     POS 33°19'31"N 130°24'49"E     ELEV 53 ft

Top Level Component Squadron Aircraft Type(s) Unit Code Badge
Seibu Homentai
Western Army

Seibu Homen Kokutai
Western Army Aviation Group
Seibu Homen Herikoputātai
Western Helicopter Unit
Honbu Zukitai
Headquarter Squadron
UH-1J WH


1 Hikotai UH-60JA WH


2 Hikotai UH-1J WH

1 Sentō Herikoputātai
1st Combat Helicopter Unit
Honbu Zukitai
Headquarter Squadron
OH-1 IBH


1 Hikotai AH-64DJP IBH


2 Hikotai No aircraft assigned IBH
Seibu Homentai
Western Army
4 Shidan
4th Division
4 Hikotai UH-1J IV
Miho (RJOH)

RWY 07/25     POS 35°29'32"N 133°14'11"E     ELEV 20 ft

Top Level Component Squadron Aircraft Type(s) Unit Code Badge
Chubu Homentai
Central Army

Chubu Homen Kokutai
Central Army Aviation Group
Chubu Homen Herikoputātai
Cental Helicopter Unit
3 Hikotai CH-47J MH
Possibly also CH-47JAs will be assigned.
Nagoya (RJNA)

RWY 16/34     POS 35°15'18"N 136°55'28"E     ELEV 46 ft

Component Company Factory Aircraft Type(s) Unit Code Badge
Overhaul facilities
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Mitsubishi Komaki Overhaul on:
UH-60JA
Naha (ROAH)

RWY 18/36     POS 26°11'45"N 127°38'45"E     ELEV 12 ft

Top Level Component Squadron Aircraft Type(s) Unit Code Badge
Seibu Homentai
Western Army

15 Ryodan
15th Brigade
15 Herikoputātai
Hunbu Zukitai LR-2
XVH


1 Hikotai UH-60JA XVH


2 Hikotai CH-47JA XVH
Osaka/Yao (RJOY)

RWY 09/27, 13/31     POS 34°35'48"N 135°36'02"E     ELEV 33 ft

Top Level Component Squadron Aircraft Type(s) Unit Code Badge
Chubu Homentai
Central Army
Chubu Homen Kokutai
Central Army Aviation Group
Honbu Zukitai
Headquarter Squadron
No aircraft assigned M
Chubu Homentai
Central Army

Chubu Homen Kokutai
Central Army Aviation Group
Chubu Homen Herikoputātai
Cental Helicopter Unit
Honbu Zukitai
Headquarter Squadron
OH-1 MH


1 Hikotai UH-1J MH


2 Hikotai UH-1J MH
Chubu Homentai
Central Army
3 Shidan
3rd Division
3 Hikotai UH-1J III
Chubu Homen Herikoputatai will be the first front-line unit to receive the UH-2.
Sapporo/Okadama (RJCO)

RWY 14/32     POS 43°07'03"N 141°22'53"E     ELEV 26 ft

Top Level Component Squadron Aircraft Type(s) Unit Code Badge
Hokubu Homentai
Northern Army
Hokubu Homen Kokutai
Northern Army Aviation Group
Honbu Zukitai
Headquarter Squadron
LR-2 N
Hokubu Homentai
Northern Army

Hokubu Homen Kokutai
Northern Army Aviation Group
Hokubu Homen Herikoputatai
Northern Helicopter Unit
Honbu Zukitai
Headquarter Squadron
UH-1J NH


1 Hikotai UH-1J NH


2 Hikotai UH-1J NH
Hokubu Homentai
Northern Army
7 Shidan
7th Division
7 Hikotai UH-1J VII

11 Ryodan
11th Brigade
11 Hikotai UH-1J XI
Soumagahara (RJTS)

RWY 06/24     POS 36°26'05"N 138°57'11"E     ELEV 1306 ft

Top Level Component Squadron Aircraft Type(s) Unit Code Badge
Tobu Homentai
Eastern Army

12 Ryodan
12th Brigade
12 Herikoputātai
Honbu Zukitai
Headquarter Squadron
No aircraft assigned XIIH


2 Hikotai CH-47J
CH-47JA
XIIH
The OH-6Ds of Honbu Zukitai were withdrawn beginning 2020.
12 Herikoputatai/1 Hikotai is based at Utsunomiya.
Tachikawa (RJTC)

RWY 01/19     POS 35°42'39"N 139°24'11"E     ELEV 313 ft

Top Level Component Squadron Aircraft Type(s) Unit Code Badge
Tobu Homentai
Eastern Army
Tobu Homen Kokutai
Eastern Army Aviation Group
Honbu Zukitai
Headquarter Squadron
No aircraft assigned E
Tobu Homentai
Eastern Army

Tobu Homen Kokutai
Eastern Army Aviation Group
Tobu Homen Herikoputātai
Eastern Helicopter Unit
Honbu Zukitai
Headquarter Squadron
OH-1 EH


1 Hikotai UH-1J EH


2 Hikotai UH-1J EH
Tobu Homentai
Eastern Army
1 Shidan
1st Division
1 Hikotai UH-1J I
Takigahara (RJAT)

RWY 02/20     POS 35°19'04"N 138°52'20"E     ELEV 2250ft

Top Level Component Squadron Aircraft Type(s) Unit Code Badge
Rikujo Sotai
Ground Component Command
Koku Gakko
Aviation School
Kyoiku Shien Hikotai Fuji Hikohan
School Support Squadron Fuji Det.
Various
Tokachi (RJCT)

RWY 13/31     POS 42°53'25"N 143°09'30"E     ELEV 281ft

Top Level Component Squadron Aircraft Type(s) Unit Code Badge
Hokubu Homentai
Northern Army

Hokubu Homen Kokutai
Northern Army Aviation Group
1 Taisensha Herikoputātai
1st Anti Tank Helicopter Unit
Honbu Zukitai
Headquarter Squadron
UH-1J IATH


1 Hikotai AH-1S IATH


2 Hikotai AH-1S IATH
Hokubu Homentai
Northern Army
5 Ryodan
5th Brigade
5 Hikotai UH-1J V

Only 38 Kawasaki OH-1 Ninjas have been built, production was halted by 2013. Further developements, such as a proposed AH-2 attack version was also stopped.

Akeno, 16 April 2009, Hans Rolink

Tokushima (RJOS)

RWY 11/29     POS 34°07'56"N 134°36'33"E     ELEV 37ft

Top Level Component Squadron Aircraft Type(s) Unit Code Badge
Chubu Homentai
Central Army
14 Ryodan
14th Brigade
14 Hikotai UH-1J
XIV
Utsunomiya (RJTU)

RWY 01/19     POS 36°30'52"N 139°52'15"E     ELEV 334 ft

Top Level Component Squadron Aircraft Type(s) Unit Code Badge
Tobu Homentai
Eastern Army

12 Ryodan
12th Brigade
12 Herikoputātai
1 Hikotai UH-60JA XIIH
Rikujo Sotai
Ground Component Command
Koku Gakko
Aviation School
Utsunomiya Kou
Utsunomiya School
UH-1J
TH-480
SU
Overhaul facilities
Subaru Corporation
Subaru Aerospace Company Overhaul on:
AH-1S
UH-1J
UH-2
AH-64DJP

The large white '828' on the cabin door, the last three of its full serial 41828, is indicating a training aircraft, this one operating with Utsunomiya Kou. Not all of the unit's Hueys have the SU unit code applied, some fly without and others are "on lease" from other units and continue to fly with their original unit's code.

Utsunomiya, 7 April 2009, Hans Rolink

Yamagata (RJSC)

RWY 01/19     POS 38°24'43"N 140°22'16"E     ELEV 345ft

Top Level Component Squadron Aircraft Type(s) Unit Code Badge
Tohoku Homentai
North Eastern Army
6 Shidan
6th Division
6 Hikotai UH-1J VI

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