Future defence plans for the Japan Self-Defense Forces?

For the moment Scramble Magazine does not know the exact status of these plans, but local media reported there could be some very dramatic changes in the fleets of the various Self-Defense Forces.

In order to economise on defence spending in the coming years some types will be retired, while for others the numbers planned to be ordered will be reduced.

For the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), more emphasize will be made on protecting the air and space domain, therefore it will be renamed into the Koku Uchu Jieitai or Japan Air and Space (Self) Defense Force.

To limit its part in defence spending, the U-125A Search and Rescue aircraft will be retired and replaced by more UH-60J II helicopters. Retirement will probably be one at a time, spread out over some years.

The big shocker is the retirement of almost the entire anti-tank helicopter fleet of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). All AH-64DJP Apaches and OH-1 Ninjas will be retired, together with the bulk of the remaining AH-1S Cobra fleet. Probably only one Cobra unit will survive.

For the Japan Marine Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) it is planned to reduce the number of Kawasaki P-1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and Sikorsky SH-60Ks but the exact impact is not clear. It could mean less P-1s will be acquired than originally planned or even stopping production altogether. The production of the SH-60K has already stopped but it could mean a limited number of SH-60Ls will be bought or even stopping developement of this Seahawk variant.

It is anticipated in the plans that Unmanned (Combat) Aerial Systems (UCAS) will be acquired to take over the tasks of the JGSDF attack helicopters and of the JMSDF anti-submarine fleet.

Scramble Magazine stresses these are only plans as reported by Japanese media, no time schedule was given.

Photos by Eric Tammer and Daniël de Pruis (both Scramble Archive)