1. The meaning of JASDF’s airlift operation
in Iraq and JASDF’s future challenge
Atsushi Hikita
Col. Japan Air Self Defense Force
Visiting Fellow, The Stimson Center

2. Contents
・ Overview of JASDF airlift operation in Iraq
・ The features of the mission
・ JASDF’s own efforts for mission
・ The meaning of the operation
・ The future challenge for JASDF
・ New Defense Program Guidelines and the
implications for JASDF’s capability
・ Conclusion

3. Overview of JASDF airlift operation in Iraq
- Based on the Iraq Special Measures Law and its Basic Plan
- Operation period: Mar. 2004 – Dec. 2008
- Airlift from Kuwait to Ali, Baghdad, Erbil etc.
- C-130H × 3 with around 200 personnel
Erbil
- Total transportation 46,500 personnel
and 673 tons of cargo
Baghdad
Ali
Ali Al Salem

4. The features of the mission
- Airlift mission under surface-to-air threat
- Construction of base facilities abroad
- Rotation of personnel affected the entire JASDF
- Deployment to unfamiliar nation

5. Airlift mission under SA threat
- Mission with safety
- Refurbishment of C-130H for self protection
- Special training for landing under the threat

6. Construction of base facilities abroad
- HQ building
- Offices
- Hanger
- Barracks
- Mess hall
- Medical room
- Bath
- etc

7. Rotation of personnel affected the entire JASDF
- Every four months
- More than 200 personnel
- Air crew and mechanics
- Doctors

8. Deployment to unfamiliar area
- Aircraft operation in desert environment
- Health and mental care
- Culture, custom and language

9. JASDF’s own efforts for mission
- Preparation before deployment
- Organization
- Intelligence
- Coordination between units

10. Preparation before deployment
Many things to prepare for
- anti-threat
- operation in the desert environment
- operation support
- personnel and their family

11. Organization
Chain of Command
Commander, ASC
CAOC
ASC Staff Director, APD
US Air Base in SW Asia
Commander, ALW
SQ Commander
Air Base in Kuwait

12. Organization
2 senior officers have authorities to make
decision to go or no-go
Commander, ALW Director, APD
weather threats
A/C requirement
status s
crew

13. Intelligence
- Operational information provided by CAOC
- Effort to access the information
- Spending much time to analyze

14. Coordination between units
Good coordination between 2 authorities for missions
Commander, ALW Director, APD

15. The meaning of the operation
- Understood world military standard
- Learned to operate with coalition members
- Thought about JASDF’s capability for
international operations

16. The future challenge for JASDF
- Enhancement of intelligence capability
- Accumulation of experience
- Response to various contingencies
- Tight relationship with US military forces

17. National Defense Program Guidelines
(NDPG) for FY 2011 and beyond
Organization, Equipment and Force Disposition
- Response to attacks on off-shore island
Strengthening air defense capability
- Strengthening capabilities for international activities
Strengthening air transport capability
- Enhancement of intelligence function
Strengthening diverse information-collecting capabilities

18. Mid-term Defense Program
(FY2011-FY2015)
JASDF
- Second fighter SQ to Naha Air base
- New JASDF Yokota Air base
- Procurement of new transport aircraft
- Procurement of new fighter
- Upgrade of AWACS
- Modernization of F-15 and F-2
- Modernization of UH-60J
- etc

19. Overview of Ｃ－２ (tentative name)
Technology
- Glass cockpit
- Fly by wire
- tactical flight management system
- Aerial refueling system
- Self protection system
- High precision navigation system
- etc
Range
Size
(max payload) Seattle ：
C-1：1,700km
Anchorage
C-2 C-130 ：
C-130：4,000km
(30t) (20t) C-1 Islamabad
：
C-2：6,500km
(8t)
Delhi Honolulu
Male
Singapore Payload
Jakarta Port Moresby ：
C-1：2.6t
Cairns ：
C-130：5.0t
C-2:12t

20. C-2 development schedule
FY
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13
1st Flight
Design & Trial Manufacture
Strength Test
Flight Test
Start of Procurement Operation

21. Mid-term Defense Program
(FY2011-FY2015)
JASDF
- Second fighter SQ to Naha Air base
- New JASDF Yokota Air base
- Procurement of new transport aircraft
- Procurement of new fighter
- Upgrade of AWACS
- Modernization of F-15 and F-2
- Modernization of UH-60J
- etc

22. F-X selection schedule
FY FY
09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
1st IPT Mtg.
Final determination
Selection
RFP Budget request
Start of procurement Operation ?

23. Mid-term Defense Program
(FY2011-FY2015)
JASDF
- Second fighter SQ to Naha Air base
- New JASDF Yokota Air base
- Procurement of new transport aircraft
- Procurement of new fighter
- Upgrade of AWACS
- Modernization of F-15 and F-2
- Modernization of UH-60J
- etc

24. Conclusion
1990’s
Persian Gulf Cambodia Mozambique Golan Heights East Timor
1991 1993-1995 1996- 1999-2004
1992-1993
2000’s
Iraq Nepal Indian Ocean Sudan Gulf of Aden
2003-2008 2007- 2008-2010 2008- 2009-
2010’s -
We should prepare for the future operations.

25. Thank you for your kind attention !