‘TIDA’ Today

FLEET AIRWING 5

  JAPAN MARITIME SELF DEFENCE FORCE

(5 Wing P-3’s air to air), courtesy of 5 wing JMSDF

In 1954 following the law which approved the creation of the Japan Self Defence Force (JSDF), it consisting of three services, the JASDF (Air Force), JGSDF (Army) and the JMSDF (Maritime). The latter command’s primary task was the defence of Japan’s coastline and the security of sea routes in territorial waters, a mission unchanged to this day.  The US Navy supplied the initial platform to conduct these missions in the form of the Lockheed P2V Neptune powered by Wright R3350 turbo-compound’s and 48 were assembled by Kawasaki from 1956.  The P2V-7 served until replaced by the licence built Kawasaki P-2J, beginning in 1969. The latter was a turbine version of the P2V Neptune powered by licensed built General Electric T64 engines.  Some 83 examples were manufactured and gradually replaced the P2V-7’s into the early seventies.

P-2J on a wet Naha in Nov 1977  

base sign

5 Wing P-3C’s on the apron at Naha 

In turn the P-2J’s were themselves replaced from 1982 by Kawasaki built P-3 Orions, manufactured also under licence from Lockheed with deliveries beginning in 1982. A total of 110 examples were built of which 74 are on charge across five Fleet Air Wings, (FAW 1,-2,-4,-5 and 31), the latter Wing plus SQN 51 operate electronic versions of the aircraft designated UP-3C/D, EP-3C and OP-3C. In addition, Air Training Command’s 203 SQN operate a number of P-3C’s.   

P-3C 5101 rotates off Naha’s RW36 on another sortie

Air Patrol Wing 5 use call sign (TIDA), meaning ‘The Sun’(local dialect ‘Utina Guchi’) and the subject of this occasional report from Japan, is home based at Air Base Naha, Okinawa, operating 51 and 52 Flight with some 12 P-3C Update 111 examples on line.

P-3C 5091 returns to Naha after a patrol

In addition to the primary missions mentioned above, 5 Wing also monitors the approaches to the southwest islands, offshore drilling rigs in home waters and is on response call for regional disaster and relief operations. Since 2009 a detachment of two examples are on rotation in Somalia partaking in the multi-national anti-piracy operation.  Recent tensions with China over disputed islands to the southwest of Okinawa (5 Wings area of responsibility) is on-going, and thus has ensured increased missions from Naha around the clock.  Several instances have been reported of Chinese fighters and surveillance aircraft flying recklessly close to 5 Wings P-3’s while conducting routine patrols in this area, following the recently implemented (and unrecognised by Japan) ADIZ. 

5MSQ badge endorsed on base hangar

In house 5 Wing Maintenance and Supply Sqn are fully equipped at Air Base Naha, to undertake checks on airframe, powerplant, electronics, ordinance and survival gear, plus the important task of procurement of the Wings inventory.

daily action at Naha

For the future a requirement for the eventual P-3 replacement will be focused on the indigenous Kawasaki P-1, several of which are currently undergoing development flying trials.  The number envisaged for the JMSDF is 70 aircraft.

Last month (July 2014) was the 60^th anniversary of the unified military JSDF.

JMSDF ensign

Thanks to GAFLIKS for providing this report.

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