Over the years, the F-4EJ Kai has built up a great reputation in Japan, this Phantom fleet majorly updated over the years to the ‘Kai’ standard. The type is currently in the last days of its operational career with the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) and will soon be replaced by new gen Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning II. The most colourful Phantoms in Japan are the photo reconnaissance aircraft of the 501 Hikotai. After more than 45 years in service of the JASDF, the aircraft are to be phased out by end 2020, the tasks of this version of the legendary Phantom taken over by the F-15J Eagle using SAR pods. The Phantoms have served with the Japanese Air Force for over 45 years and have equipped eight squadrons during their service.
The legendry McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II continues in frontline operational service with the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF). In the near future, this will change, as in the course of 2020, the Phantoms will be phased out and replaced by the next gen Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning II. After 45 years of service with the Japanese Air Force, the Phantom is now obsolescent and due for replacement, having been in decline with the JASDF for several years. Of the original seven squadrons and a test unit, only two squadrons and a test unit are now active with different versions of the F-4 Phantom. The other squadrons have since been re-equipped with the Mitsubishi F-15J Eagle. After a long evaluation on a successor to the F-4 Phantom II, by the Japanese Government decided in December 2011 to purchase the Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning II. Japan had initially chosen the Lockheed-Martin F-22A Raptor but this move was rejected because the aircraft would be far too expensive and beyond the Japanese defence budget.
The F-35A Lightning II is going to be Japan's first fifth generation fighter plane and will therefore, play a most important role with the JASDF. The very first Japanese F-35A arrived at Luke Air Force Base in the United States on 29 November 2016 and since then, the JASDF has been training the first batch of its fighter pilots on this new fifth generation fighter aircraft. Japan is part of an international training unit that trains pilots on the F-35A Lightning II at Luke Air Force Base. At the beginning of 2019, the first F-35s were relocated to Japan itself to form the first operational unit there.
One of the first JASDF F-35As
The first Japanese operational squadron re-equipping from the F-4 Phantom to the F-35A Lightning II is the 302 Hikotai, which has flown the Phantom for many years from Nyatubaru and later also from Hyakuri. In August 2017, it was announced that 302 Hikotai would be the first unit in the JASDF to switch to the F-35 Lightning, the squadron eventually stopped flying the F-4 in March 2019, the unit moving from Hyakuri Air Base to Misawa Air Base in northern Japan that same month, Misawa being in the northern part of the main Japanese island of Honshu. Since the first Lightnings were moved to Misawa, thirteen aircraft have already been delivered to the squadron over the fifteen months, 302 Hikotai being declared IOC on the F-35 on 29 March 2019. In 2020, the unit will receive more aircraft, and the squadron would be at full strength.
Going back to the Phantom, ever since introduction of the RF-4 with the JASDF in 1974, the Japanese have had an excellent photo reconnaissance aircraft, their Phantoms performing this most exacting photo reconnaissance task.
Mixed formation of JASDF aircraft types
After the last RF-4E(J) Kai is phased out end March 2020, the 301 Hikotai will remain as the only unit with the F-4EJ Kai but this unit too will also start transition to the F-35 in April next year. Like the 302 Hikotai, the 301 Hikotai will be moving from Hyakuri Air Base to Misawa Air Base in northern Japan.
‘Phantastic’ view of the F-4 Phantom II in Japanese markings
At the end of 2019, a Phantom farewell was organised during the annual air show at Hyakuri Phantom Pharewell in Japan. There are plans to base a squadron of Mitsubishi F-2s at Hyakuri Air Base.
Line-up of JASDF Phantoms
The new F-35A Lightning IIs are being built under license in Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Japan plans to eventually purchase a total of 157 F-35s, consisting of 115 F-35A Lightning IIs for the JASDF and 42 F-35Bs for deployment at sea. Meanwhile, after 45 years of “loyal service”, the Samurai Phantoms will be taking off for the last time in 2020 and after their retirement, the JASDF Phantom can only be admired in museums.
Photos and text: Joris van Boven and Alex van Noye