Japan's 91 Kokutai disbanded

As long ago as June 2019, Scramble Magazine reported about the plan of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) to merge 81 and 91 Kokutai into one unit.

Both units are part of 31 Kokugun (Fleet Air Wing) and based at Iwakuni. 81 Kokutai operates four EP-3 and four OP-3C Orions in the ELINT role and 91 Kokutai operates three UP-3D Orion and four U-36A Learjets as electronic warfare trainings aircraft. The surviving unit was reported to be 81 Kokutai.

The official date for the disbandment of 91 Kokutai was 30 September 2020. During a ceremony inside one of the Iwakuni hangars, the squadron commander of 91 Kokutai returned the squadron flag to the commander of 31 Kokugun.

The next day, 1 October 2020, in another ceremony, 81 Kokutai was re-organized into 811 Hikotai operating the 81 Kokutai assets and 812 Hikotai, operating the former 91 Kokutai assets. So we will see some unit changes in the near future.

Photo: Reinier Schreurs (Scramble Magazine Archive)