Japanese Air defence corp

I understand that the JADC owns some wide range of fighters including F-4s and F-16s and F-2s(Japanese version of the American F-16s) In my opinion, I think to have a large amount of the F-16s (Defensive fighters) is enough for a Air Corp to focus on the defense a country's airspace, and the F-2 fighter is the improved version of the F-16(Excellent Defensive interceptor).
. But I think those JADC F-15s are too much for a DEFENCE Corp. Please leave what you think.......:china:

Su-27 Pilot said:

I understand that the JADC owns some wide range of fighters including F-4s and F-16s and F-2s(Japanese version of the American F-16s) In my opinion, I think to have a large amount of the F-16s (Defensive fighters) is enough for a Air Corp to focus on the defense a country's airspace, and the F-2 fighter is the improved version of the F-16(Excellent Defensive interceptor).
. But I think those JADC F-15s are too much for a DEFENCE Corp. Please leave what you think.......:china:

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Well as we know F-15 is a great naval plane too, since Japan is an island. F-15 is meant for air superiority so in is a very good deterrent compare to F-16 (which is multi-role and single engine) and F-16. As stated for any defence corp, you might want a powerful deterrent.

I think everyone here can agree that Japan has the most powerful navy and airforce in Asia (beside the US). The JADC is only a defensive force in name, its obvious that the 2 most famous defence forces in the world happen to be among the most tech-savy and formiable forces in the world (Japan and Isreal).

The Japanese call it a defence corp only because the law mandate it, lets be honest here, the name is there for political purposes, just like how all the US (and rest of the world) changed the WAR Department into the current day Department of DEFENCE. The name change in no ways hinders the operationality of the armed forces.

japan is superb at technology, but has a considerably weak military r&d base. the f-1 is pretty much a jaguar design, and the f-2 is the f-16. the kongo is an arleigh burke. but as long as japn can buy technology, its safe.

I think the Japanese air force is getting a little overrated here. The F-15Js are far from the most advanced F-15s around. The F-15Ks are probably far more advanced. I'm not sure the Koreans got AESA radar as part of the package though. Also F-15Js can't fire AMRAAM due to using their own Japanese radar. They fire AAM-4. I'm not sure what the performance of these things are. Also, the Japanese F-2 program is a total failure. It has AESA radar, but the quality of which is really flaky. In general, the Japanese had so little faith in the fighter that they cut the order down to less than 100. So no, the Japanese air force is not the best air force in my opinion. The Koreans have the best fighter overall in F-15K and IAI has the best force overall.

ahho said:

Well as we know F-15 is a great naval plane too, since Japan is an island. F-15 is meant for air superiority so in is a very good deterrent compare to F-16 (which is multi-role and single engine) and F-16. As stated for any defence corp, you might want a powerful deterrent.

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F15 is not a naval aircraft it is a land based fighter. The F14 is a naval fighter

the f-15 is japans best best for naval combat, since the navy doesnt have carriers. it can still perform basic attack and a2a engagements.

i think the japanese retired the f-4, and are planning to retire the f-5 too. the question is, why havnt the japanese built their own design, specifically made for island defence?

Addressing the question by MigLeader regarding why Japan has not developed its own indigenious fighter designed for Island defense...

First of all you have to consider what Japan's military forces are for. Obviously they have no intention or desire to invade other countries (Let's put WWII behind us) so as their name implies, the military is for Self Defense.

So what are the potential threats to Japan? Let's make it simple... Naval or Air threats. (I'll put aside ground forces for now, if a hostile army has gotten to Japanese soil then something's seriously f*cked up)

The main conceivable potential threats to Japan would in all likelihood would be North Korea or China. (I'll dismiss politics here, I'll just say they are the most likely, however unlikely it is, for the sake of argument otherwise this would get old quick)

The JMSDF has a highly professional submarine force that is proficient in anti-submarine as well as anti-surface work. They are also a force that complements the surface fleet; the JSMDF does work on coordinated ship-sub-aircraft operations. Japan has Harpoons as well as a small variety of Anti-Ship missiles, I wouldn't consider them too overrated in terms of Anti-Ship capability.

Considering anti-air capabilities, though...

While JASDF units have a high professional reputation, and have increased their exercise participation with U.S. air forces in recent years, in weaponry they would today enter combat with PLA fighters at a potential disadvantage. Japan is (probably) examining the purchase of a new air-superiority fighter to succeed its 70 or so F-4EJ fighters. They might be considering the purchase of the F/A-22 and the F-35, even though the later would not be available until after 2013.

I know this is really simple, but I'm kind of tired... I'll add more to this later...

Even with a future Chinese superiority, however Japan still has the defender's advantage of location, familiarity of surrounding terrain, and SAMs. The defender has the advantage of easier to coordinate logistics, which is a big plus in war.

I would say that as of now the Japanese Self Defense Force fills its role pretty well. They don't need a fighter designed for island defense because they already have one/some, the F-15J and its supporting aircraft. To defend your island you need anti-air and anti-ship capable aircraft, and that's what Japan's good at.

I don't think they could stop potential missile strikes from North Korea or China, but that's another story... even the US can't confidently stop missile strikes... "Star Wars" is obviously a possibility but the Japanese are smarter than to waste money on it...

The_Zergling said:

Considering anti-air capabilities, though...

While JASDF units have a high professional reputation, and have increased their exercise participation with U.S. air forces in recent years, in weaponry they would today enter combat with PLA fighters at a potential disadvantage. Japan is (probably) examining the purchase of a new air-superiority fighter to succeed its 70 or so F-4EJ fighters. They might be considering the purchase of the F/A-22 and the F-35, even though the later would not be available until after 2013.

I don't think they could stop potential missile strikes from North Korea or China, but that's another story... even the US can't confidently stop missile strikes... "Star Wars" is obviously a possibility but the Japanese are smarter than to waste money on it...

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Why would the Japanese be at a potential disadvantage in an air war with China? And the Japanese r committing cash to TMD. Dumb arses....but then its political.

tphuang said:

I think the Japanese air force is getting a little overrated here. The F-15Js are far from the most advanced F-15s around. The F-15Ks are probably far more advanced. I'm not sure the Koreans got AESA radar as part of the package though. Also F-15Js can't fire AMRAAM due to using their own Japanese radar. They fire AAM-4. I'm not sure what the performance of these things are. Also, the Japanese F-2 program is a total failure. It has AESA radar, but the quality of which is really flaky. In general, the Japanese had so little faith in the fighter that they cut the order down to less than 100. So no, the Japanese air force is not the best air force in my opinion. The Koreans have the best fighter overall in F-15K and IAI has the best force overall.

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The F-2 might lack air-to-air capability, but it has very good strike capability. It has the capability to fire Harpoons, which is very important since Japan is a bunch of islands. F-15s could probably provide cover for the F-2s. And what kind of SAMs are on Japan's ships?