The Quest For Stealth : Japan's Mitsubishi X-2 Experimental Fighter 日本三菱重工 X-2 ステルス戦闘機

 

 

 

 

First Flight of the Mitsubishi X-2 on 22nd Apr 2016.
Photo credit Akira Uekawa

 

 

 

Japan's Stealth Fighter Program

Japan has a nascent stealth fighter program run by the Ministry of Defense's Acquisition Technology And Logistic Agency ( ATLA ) for the Japan Air Self Defense Force ( JASDF ) and it is known as the Advanced Technology Demonstrator - X  ( ATD-X ) Stealth Fighter Program or 先進技術実証機 senshin gijutsu jisshoki. As the name implies, it is a prototype to test advanced concepts in stealth and other aviation technology that can ultimately be utilized by a future generation fighter design.

Not many countries in the world can boast of having independently embarked on stealth aircraft development. Apart from the United States who is the undisputed leader in stealth technology, only Russia, China and Japan can claim to have truly indigenous stealth fighter programs. Being a Tier 1, Tier2 or Tier 3 partner in the Joint Strike Fighter Program does not count since most of the work is done by the Americans.

The Russian effort has resulted in the Sukhoi PAK-FA ( T-50 ) which is about to enter service this year while the Chinese are said to have the J-20 already in low rate initial production ( LRIP ) and are in an advanced stage with their J-31. This article takes a closer look at how the Japanese are fairing.

Replacing JASDF's Ageing Fighters

The JASDF currently operates a fleet of ageing fighter aircrafts including the Vietnam War era F-4EJ Kai, the F-16 derived F-2 and the F-15J. Back in 2005, they were really keen to have the F-22A as the replacement for some of these old aircrafts, but to safeguard its supremacy in stealth technology, the United States decided not to export their most capable stealth fighter to anyone, not even to their most trusted ally Japan. Instead, the Americans have been pushing everybody to accept the second best option, the problem plagued, expensive and long overdue F-35 Joint Strike Fighter ( JSF ). So, in a way, the Japanese had been forced to develop their own stealth fighter. The ATD-X program was launched.

Meanwhile, with the F-4EJ way beyond its sell-by date, and perhaps alarmed by the emergence of Chinese stealth jets, the Japanese finally decided in 2011 to acquire 42 F-35A JSF as an interim measure to replace the Phantoms. 38 of the 42 F-35A will be assembled by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in their Nagoya plant. Mitsubishi will also be involved in testing the JSF's stealth against radars, and the experience gained in the development and manufacturing of the F-35 should contribute towards the development of Japan's indigenous stealth fighter.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries ( MHI 三菱重工 ) is a conglomerate with interests spanning the aerospace, marine, land transport, energy and environment domains. Their products are so diverse that it is almost impossible to list everything. Some of the more prominent ones include the Soryu-class attack submarine, the Mitsubishi Regional Jet ( MRJ ), Atago-class Aegis destroyers, Patriot SAM system and the Type-10 MBT.

All of JASDF's post-war fighter aircrafts had so far been designed or license-produced by MHI, from the F-86 Sabre to the F-104J Starfighter, followed by the F-4EJ Phantom, F-1, F-15J, F-2 and now the F-35.

Of course those who are familiar with military history will tell that Mitsubishi is actually most famous for the long range carrier-borne fighter known as the A6M Zero or the Reisen (零戦). This legendary fighter was designed by aeronautical engineer Jiro Horikoshi ( 堀越二郎 ), and its performance was unmatched by any western combat aircraft at the beginning of World War II, attaining a kill ratio of 12:1. It was extensively used by the Imperial Japanese Navy on the raid on Pearl Harbour in Dec 1941, an event that marked the beginning of the Pacific War.




1:72 scale model of the Mitsubishi A6M2b Zero ( Type 21 ).
 Photo : Hasegawa Model Co.

So, it is quite obvious that MHI has been a key player when it came to Japanese fighter design and production for close to a century, stretching back to the pre-war years.
　

 

Mitsubishi X-2 Stealth Fighter

The X-2 is a single-seat, twin-engine, thrust-vectoring, low-observable technology demonstrator. It has a shape similar to other stealth aircrafts like the F-22 and the PAK-FA with a flat looking body and two outward canting vertical stabilizers. The air intake ducts were shaped to conceal the engine fan blades from radar waves and access panels have serrated edges. In fact it looked like a miniature version of the F-22.

It was initially launched as the ATD-X program following the failure by Japan to acquire an export version of the F-22, the project was under the jurisdiction of the Technical Research and Development Institute ( TRDI ) which was the predecessor of the current ATLA.

Anechoic chamber tests carried out in France in 2005 on a full scale ATD-X model suggested that it had a radar cross section ( RCS ) equivalent to an object the with a size somewhere between that of an insect and a bird. These electromagnetic spectrum reflection and absorption tests were originally intended to be done at a USAF test facility but approval was not granted.

In the spring of 2006, a radio-controlled 1 : 5 scale model of the ATD-X constructed out of carbon fibre reinforced plastic with a length of 3m and width of 2m and a weight of 45kg was first flown at the Multi-Purpose Aerospace Park in the Taikicho District of Hokkaido ( 北海道大樹町 ). A total of 4 such remotely controlled aircrafts were eventually constructed and 40 test flights were conducted until Nov 2007.

Subsequently, the ATD-X program was given the full go ahead in 2007. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was appointed the main contractor. As usual the early developments were cloaked in secrecy. The stealth prototype was commonly referred to as the Shinshin ( spirit of the heart ).

In order to keep developmental cost low, the X-2 reuses some components from previously developed aircraft types. This included the canopy and the ejection seat from the Kawasaki T-4 intermediate jet trainer which itself was taken from the Mitsubishi F-1 strike fighter. The main and rear landing gears were taken from the Mitsubishi T-2, the jet trainer developed from the F-1.

By 2009 39.4 billion yen had already been invested. 90% of the X-2's components are indigenously manufactured in Japan. Mitsubishi manufactures the fuselage and landing gears, Kawasaki the cockpit and canopy, Fuji the main wing and tail stabilizers, IHI the engines, in total about 220 Japanese aerospace companies supplying several hundred thousand different parts and components.

The ATD-X prototype was officially unveiled on 28th Jan 2016 by which time it had been given the designation X-2.

Advance technology that the ATD-X will test and evaluate includes the usual stuff one would expect for a 5th generation stealth fighter and more :

Low observable or stealth technology, like radar absorbing coating and materials. The body of the aircraft is said to be covered with a layer of new composite material of ceramic and silicon carbide capable of absorbing radar waves. The canopy itself would be emission-proofed with its own special coating.

Second generation AESA radar. Japan is the first country to have an AESA radar installed on a production combat fighter the Mitsubishi F-2 and that was almost twenty years ago. Although initially plagued with problems, the technology had matured and the experience gained by Japan would no doubt be a useful contribution towards the design of a new generation AESA radar.

Thrust vectoring and super-maneuverability. Each engine nozzle have a trio of unusual paddle contraptions similar to what was seen on the German-American X-31 experimental aircraft for vectoring engine thrust.

Indigenously developed high-thrust low by-pass turbofan capable of super-cruising - sustained super-sonic flight without the involvement of afterburners. Some of the experience gained in developing the XF5-1 engine for the X-2 had already been applied to the production F-7-10 engine used by the P-1 maritime patrol aircraft.

Fly-By-Light advance fibre optic flight control system, likely an improved version over the first generation control system used in the P-1. This Integrated Flight Propulsion Control ( IFPC ) links flight control with nozzle and thrust control to enable some form of automatic recovery from combat damage.

Next generation Infra-Red Search and Tract ( IRST ) and radio frequency sensors as well as Head Up Display and Helmet Mounted Display technology.

Advance Electronic Support Measures ( ESM ) and Electronic Countermeasures ( ECM ) suites. Likely electronic attack capability.

The specifications for the X-2 are as follows :


Length : 14.2m

Wingspan 9.1m

Height : 4.5m

Weight : 9.7 tons

Engine : IHI XF5-1 Afterburning Turbofan x 2

 

 

Thrust vectoring paddles of the super-maneuverable X-31
experimental aircraft. Wikipaedia

IHI XF5-1 Afterburning Turbofan. Wikipaedia 

 

 

A 1:14 scale transonic (遷音速) wind tunnel model of the X-2,
also known as the Shinshin ( 心神 ), on display at the
 JASDF Hamamatsu Air Park taken during my visit
on 11th Jun 2016.

 

 

 

 

First Flight

Since the X-2's official unveiling on 28th Jan 2016, it had attained several important milestones. Low speed ground taxiing test was carried out on 11th Feb followed later by high speed full afterburner acceleration test on the runway.

After several delays due to technical issues and poor weather, the X-2 finally took to the skies for the very first time on 22nd Apr 2016. At 0847 hours local time, the experimental aircraft took off from Nagoya Airport in Aichi Prefecture, flew for 26 minutes and landed at the JASDF Gifu Air Base about 50km away at 0913 hours. The X-2 was accompanied by at least two chase planes, a F-2 and a F-15. During the brief, uneventful flight, the X-2 attained a maximum altitude of 12000 feet and a maximum speed of 370km/h. It underwent simple tests like ascend, descend and circling operations after entering the designated test flight zone. It also made a few simulated landings in the air before a final safe touch down. The MHI test pilot subsequently described the aircraft's handling as extremely stable and that it performed just as the simulator training had predicted. The Ministry of Defense considered the first flight a successful test in their press release ( in Japanese ).

The second flight of the X-2 took place on 18th May 2016 and was again rather uneventful. It was supposed to accelerate to a higher speed and retract its landing gears.

In the next two years or so, if all goes well, the X-2 will be performing another 50 test flights for more in depth studies of its aerodynamic and stealth characteristics. After that, Japan can decide whether it wants to pursue this stealth fighter venture on its own or if it wishes to partner other countries to develop the next generation fighter for the JASDF.




The X-2 during its maiden flight on 22nd Apr 2016. JASDF Photo

 

The X-2 during its maiden flight on 22nd Apr 2016. JASDF

 

The X-2 accompanied by a F-2 chase plane during its maiden flight. JASDF

 

 

 

Video of maiden flight.

 

 

Another video of first flight. 

 

 

Video of second flight

 

 

 

The Mitsubishi F-3

The Japanese hope that the technology used in the ATD-X / X-2 will eventually lead to the development and fielding of a new generation indigenous stealth fighter by 2030. This next generation fighter will presumably be designated the F-3, as the previous generations of fighters were designated the F-1 and the F-2.

The F-3 will likely be the replacement for both the F-15J and the slightly newer F-2. The F-15J began its service with the JASDF in 1984 and celebrated its 30th anniversary 2 years ago. They would have served 46 years in the JASDF by 2030. The F-2 entered service in 2000 and would have served 30 years by the end of the next decade.

Physically, the F-3 will have to be a lot bigger than the X-2 as it would have to carry loads of fuel to achieve the long endurance that the JASDF required to defend their island chains. The bigger airframe will also provide for a large internal weapons bay ( which the X-2 lacks ) for at least six large missiles and of course, bigger and more powerful engines.

You can watch the computer generated animation of the F-3A and the F-3E Strike Shinshin attacking a Chinese Carrier Battle Group in a sea battle in the year 2035, shooting down J-15s with cannons, AAM-4 and AAM-5 missiles and sinking two aircraft carriers with ASM-3 anti-ship missiles. Yes, go kick some Chinese Ass. Just don't expect the final F-3E, wherever that came from, to be shaped like what was depicted in the movie, with delta wings and without vertical stabilizers like the B-2 Spirit.

Japanese and Chinese carrier battle groups slug it out in this imaginary sea battle in 2035

Failure Is Not An Option?

Just like ship hulls, no airframe would last forever. Ageing aircrafts would have to be retired and replaced when they reach their rated flight hour limit. Japan's frontline combat fighters face an ever increasing operational tempo in recent years with record numbers of airspace violation incidences from Chinese aircrafts in the south and Russian aircrafts in the north. In FY2015 ( 1 Apr 2015 to 31 Mar 2016 ) MOD figures indicated 571 scrambles against Chinese aircrafts alone and 873 scrambles in total. At this rate, the F-15s and the F-2 may well have to be replaced even earlier than projected.





Latest cumulative JASDF scramble data from 1958 ( Showa 33 ) to 2016 ( Heisei 28 )
released on 5th Jul including figures for 1Q2016 ( red bar ), a record breaking 281 sorties.
Vertical axis indicates total number of scrambles while horizontal axis indicates the year.

So there is a sense of urgency for the X-2 stealth fighter program to progress in a timely manner and to culminate in the form of Japan's next generation fighter by the year 2030. Failure is really not an option.

The Japanese MOD had already issued a request for information on the next generation fighter to replace the F-2 from foreign and domestic aerospace companies, to be submitted by 5th Jul 2016. A tender worth an estimated $40 billion for about a hundred aircrafts will be launched sometime this month with MHI, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, SAAB and the Eurofighter Consortium either already invited or expressing interest. It is believed that three options existed, buying or upgrading an existing design ( F-15J? ), buying a new aircraft type from a foreign supplier and finally a domestically developed aircraft, likely with the help of foreign partners. A decision on the tender will be made by 2018 and the aircraft likely to enter service at the end of the next decade.

Currently, perhaps only two things could derail the X-2 program and prevent the development of an indigenous F-3. If the United States would come to its senses and somehow not only restart the production of the F-22 Raptor but agree to export it to Japan at a reasonable price, that could kill the X-2 and the F-3. If the F-35A could overcome its teething problems in short order and morph into the 5th generation fighter that it was supposed to be, coupled with a significant decrease in price with the commencement of volume production, that too could affect the X-2. In truth, neither of these hypothetical scenarios look likely to happen in the near term.

If and when the X-2 program is brought to fruition in the form of an operational 5th generation stealth fighter, it might just be the most significant weapon system developed in post-war Japan. And that's because at least for the free world, it would break the monopoly of the F-35 as the only option for an export stealth fighter.

To many Japanese, the X-2 is a symbol of hope that Japan could once again produce a world class fighter and be a dominant player in the aviation industry, just like it did 80 years ago with the Mitsubishi A6M Zero. That dream will progressively become closer to reality with each successful test flight of the X-2. Go forth and soar with the winds. Gambatte X-2! 　

Okinawa : Still Occupied 70 Years after WWII

A US Navy P-3C Orion assigned to Patrol Squadron Nine (VP-9)
undergoes a post flight turnaround on the flight line at Kadena Air Base,
 Okinawa, after completing a mission to Edwin-Andrews Air Base
 located in Zamboanga City.U.S. Navy photo

Okinawa

The Ryukyu Islands ( 琉球列島 Ryukyu Retto ) are a chain of islands in the Western Pacific that stretches over 1000km long, the largest of which is Okinawa Island ( 沖縄島 Okinawa Jima ). Collectively, they form Japan's southern-most prefecture - Okinawa Prefecture ( 沖縄県 Okinawa Ken ). Okinawa also happens to be the poorest among the 47 Japanese prefectures. The capital is Naha City ( 那覇市 Naha Shi ), located on the southern part of Okinawa Island. The total population number about 1.4 million. Tourism and agriculture form an important part of its economy. Geographically, Okinawa Island is about 600km south of Kyushu Island and a similar distance from Taiwan and therefore mainland China.

Map of Okinawa. Source : University of Texas Library





The Ryuku Islands shown in red and their geographical location relative to Japan. Source : Wikipedia 

The Ryukyu Kingdom

The Okinawa Islands have a long history dating back more than a thousand years to the ancient Kingdom of Ryukyu. Their proximity to both Japan and China meant that there was an abundance of influence from both cultures in all aspects of life - language, customs, architecture, food etc. They had maintained a tributary relationship with China since the 15th century and with Japan since the 17th century. The Japanese eventually annexed the Ryukyu Kingdom through military incursion in 1872 and it became a Japanese prefecture in 1879.

 

The Battle of Okinawa

During World War Two, the Japanese military converted the Okinawa Islands into formidable fortresses, deploying tens of thousands of soldiers in well prepared and well defended locations, supported by warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy and aircraft stationed at Naha, Kadena and Yomitan Aerodromes. As the Pacific War raged the United States adopted an island-hopping strategy, reclaiming one Japanese-held island after another, until they finally reached Okinawa. To the Japanese, Okinawa is the last line of defense for the home islands. To the US and her allies, Okinawa would be the staging area for the planned invasion of Kyushu in Oct 1945 ( Operation Downfall ) and the invasion of the Kanto Plain in the spring of 1946 ( Operation Coronet ), which of course never happened.

The US Marines landed on Okinawa on 1st April 1945 and fierce fighting continued for 81 days before the island was secured. Out on the high seas, the invasion fleet had to fight off waves of kamikaze suicide airplanes launched from Kyushu and Formosa ( Taiwan ). It was also notable that the IJN Yamato, the biggest battleship in the world, was sunk by carrier aviation on her one-way suicide mission to Okinawa.

In all, US casualties for the Okinawa Campaign amounted to 82000, out of which 12500 were KIA or MIA. The Japanese military casualties were even more horrendous, estimated at 110000 soldiers killed. Civilian casualties were estimated at between 30000 to 100000, out of a total population of 300000 then.

And that marked the beginning of a seventy year long US military presence in Okinawa which is currently still ongoing and with no end in sight.

 

The End Of World War Two

The complete destruction of Hiroshima City and Nagasaki City by atomic bombs on 6th and 9th Aug 1945 finally forced the Japanese to an unconditioned surrender on 14th Aug, achieving what Air Force General Lemay's firebombing of Tokyo and other major Japanese cities failed to accomplish. It was followed by close to seven years of US occupation and administration under Supreme Commander Douglas MacArthur during which Japan was demilitarized and democratized. Japanese independence was restored in 1952 when the US occupation of the Japanese main islands ended under the San Francisco Treaty. However, Okinawa continued to be under US administration for another twenty years until 1972. Large areas of Okinawa Island were taken over by the US military for the construction of airbases, depots and barracks and for the creation of maneuvering grounds. Once acquired, the lands were off limits to civilians. About 20% of Okinawa Island is currently still under US control.




Areas on Okinawa Island still occupied by US military today are shown in red on this map. Source : Wikipedia

Map of Okinawa showing major cities and highways. MCAS Futenma is at Ginowan City. Kadena AFB is at Okinawa City. Henoko where the new Marines Air Station is to be relocated is south-west of Nago City whereas Motobu is west of Nago. Google Maps.

Okinawa Today : Military Everywhere

I happened to be in Okinawa for more than a week last month to participate in the 23rd 2015 Okinawa Marathon. It was my first visit to Okinawa and I did not know what to expect apart from what the brochures from JNTO described. They did not mention much about the presence of the US and Japanese military forces and their effects on every life in Okinawa. I had the entire trip to discover just how pervasive are the effects in every aspect of Okinawan society.





23rd 2015 Okinawa Marathon. The course brings runners around Okinawa City and at the 29km point enters Kadena Air Force Base Gate 2 and then exits the base at Gate 5 after 3km.



Naha Airport : Civilian And Military

 

I shall begin by stating that Naha Airport ( 那覇空港 ) is actually a combined civilian airfield and a Japan Air Self Defense Force ( JASDF 航空自衛隊 Koku Jieitai ) air base. I was not aware of this when my Japan Airlines domestic flight from Tokyo was landing at Naha Airport as I was distracted by the emerald blue seawater to the west of the runway. Only now when I examine imagery from Google Earth did I come to realize that had I looked the other direction as the plane was landing, I would have likely seen an entire squadron of F-15J fighters on the tarmac waiting to scramble, together with T-4 advanced jet trainers, CH-47J Chinook heavy lift helicopters, E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft and a swarm of P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft.
 

 

JASDF Naha Airbase ( 那覇基地 Naha Kichi ) and Naha Airport side by side in this Google Earth Imagery dated 31st Jan 2015, less than 2 weeks before my visit to Okinawa.

12 JASDF Mitsubishi F-15J/DJ and 6 smaller Kawasaki T-4 Advanced Jet Trainers of the 83rd Air Wing neatly parked in 3 rows. 2 Northrop Grumman E-2C airborne early warning aircraft with wings folded and a Lockheed P-3C maritime patrol aircraft are also seen in this enlarged view of the image above.

 

A total of 8 JMSDF Lockheed P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft parked next to the domestic terminal of Naha Airport, the nearest P-3C is less than 300m from the civilian airliner.

 

 

South ( to the left ) of the T-4s are 3 Boeing CH-47J Chinook helicopters and a smaller one, possibly a UH-60 Blackhawk. The large twin engine jet at the extreme left could be a KC-767 tanker.

 

As Okinawa is only 410km from the Senkaku Islands who's sovereignty is in dispute with China and Taiwan, the F-15Js of the 83rd Wing JASDF stationed at Naha Airbase is on round the clock alert for intrusions by aircrafts from mainland China. In fact there had been 400 scrambles in the past year alone, up from less than a hundred 3 years ago, so much so that a second F-15J squadron had been scheduled to operate out of Naha this year. So the military presence can be quite visual even before one lands in Okinawa.




The F-15J in the foreground 22-8939 is with the 83rd Wing based in Naha. A U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet from the Royal Maces of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27 flies in formation with two Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15J Eagles during a dissimilar air combat training exercise near Okinawa, Japan 24th Feb 2015 . (U.S. Navy photo by Cmdr. Spencer Abbot)

 

 

As I left Naha Airport in a shuttle bus operated by my hotel, one of the very first landmark that I encountered as the bus drove towards Naha City was a quartet of legacy aircraft, previously operated by the JASDF, displayed prominently near the main gate of Naha Air Base. The most eye catching plane is a Lockheed / Mitsubishi F-104J Starfighter mounted on a pedestal with its nose pointing skywards. The other 3 planes parked next to it comprised of a McDonnell Douglas / Mitsubishi F-4EJ Phantom II fighter, a Lockheed / Kawasaki T-33A Shooting Star trainer and a Beechcraft B-65 Queen Air utility plane. What a sight!
 

 

The quartet at the gates of Naha Airbase as seen on Google Earth. F-104J, T-33A, F-4EJ and B-65. Note the Monorail tracks that follow the perimeter of the airbase 

 

How the JASDF Naha Kichi quartet would look like from the elevated Yui Monorail tracks. From front row Lockheed F-104J, middle row left Beechcraft B-65, right Lockheed T-33A, rear McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ. Credit : livedoor.blog.jp

 

 Okinawa Marathon : Running Inside Kadena Air Base

The most popular marathon held on Okinawa Island is actually the Naha Marathon which takes place in early December at Naha City. The Okinawa Marathon though less popular is unique in the way the course cuts through the US Air Force's Kadena Air Base (嘉手納基地) between the 29km to the 32km point. I am not certain why the race course is designed like this but I guess it could be the USAF, specifically the 18th Wing of the Fifth Air Force stationed at Kadena Air Base, wanted to engage the local community in some meaningful way and therefore opened the base to the marathon organisers for this once a year event.

I initially signed up for the marathon because I wanted to see Kadena Air Base up close. Actually I was secretly dreaming about seeing the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor stealth fighters which I know had been deployed to Kadena Air Base but logic tells me the race course would never be anywhere close to the runways or the aircraft.

 

 





I was hoping to see this! Airmen watch as an F-22 Raptor taxis toward a refueling station March 31, 2011, on the flightline at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The pilots and maintainers, along with the F-22s, are assigned to the 525th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. They deployed to Kadena AB earlier in 2011 to test their capabilities in a new environment and to train with Airmen and aircraft there. U.S. Air Force photo

In fact, Kadena Air Base is so huge that runners basically only get to run past living quarters, schools, supermarkets, storage bunkers etc. through the low security zones for the entire 3 kilometers between Gate 2 and Gate 5. I did not at any point in time get even a glimpse of any aircraft or runway! Runners did however get plenty of support and cheering from base personnel and their family members who turned out in large numbers to watch the marathon. Most cheer the runners in fluent Japanese with shouts of "Gambare" " Gambatte" which means "keep at it" or "go for it" and "Faito" which means "Fight!". Many stand by the road side under the hot sun ( hot even in winter! ) to offer runners drinks, sweets, salt and fruits.

 

 





23rd 2015 Okinawa Marathon : Entering Kadena Air Base Gate 2.

23rd 2015 Okinawa Marathon : 29km point just after entering Gate 2, Kadena Air Base. Base personnel and their family members turn out in large numbers to cheer the runners on.



23rd 2015 Okinawa Marathon : Possibly high school kids from Kadena Air Base cheering at 31km point.
 



23rd 2015 Okinawa Marathon : Exiting Kadena Air base at Gate 5

So you see even a civilian event has a decidedly military flavor in Okinawa.

Marine Corps Air Station Futenma

After the marathon, it was time for some sightseeing and some R and R. I went back to Naha City and rented a car to explore Okinawa Island. As I followed the main road north towards Okinawa City, I passed Marine Corps Air Station Futenma ( 海兵隊普天間航空基地 ) at Ginowan City some 9km north of Naha. MCAS Futenma is home to about 3000 marines of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and has a variety of rotary and fixed wing aircraft operating out of it. It had been constructed by the US military in 1945 after the defeat of the Imperial Japanese Army in Okinawa. Over the next 70 years, Ginowan grew from a small village into a congested city of 93000 in population, and Futenma sits right in the middle, occupying a large tract of prime land which could have been used to construct roads, housing and commercial zones.

 

 



Aerial view of MCAS Futenma and Ginowan City in a photo dated May 2010. Source Wikipedia.





The logo of Marine Corps Air Station Futemna with a Japanese Shinto torii in the background and the Marine Corps Eagle, Globe and Anchor emblem at the top and the Naval Aviator insignia at the bottom. Source : Wikipedia

MV-22B Ospreys assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (HMM-262) park behind a CH-46 Sea Knight also with HMM-262 after landing on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma (MCAS Futenma), August 12, 2013. The aircraft will be based at and operate out of MCAS Futenma, and will be replacing the CH-46 helicopter. HMM-262 is part of Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Katelyn Hunter)

Residents living near the air base had to endure noise form aircrafts taking-off and landing. They also had to bear with the smell of fumes and exhausts from aircraft engines. The risk of air crashes is always a worry and roads have to be detoured around the base through narrow coastal corridors making them vulnerable to congestion and jams. Fortunately for me, it was a weekday and the traffic was smooth. I saw several C-130 transport aircraft in the distance and that was about it.

 



The iconic Boeing MV-22 Osprey. 150209-N-UF697-202 EAST CHINA SEA (Feb. 9, 2015) An MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Reinforced), takes off from the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) currently deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo )

Of all the aircraft deployed at Futenma, the most iconic would be the Boeing MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft. They began arriving in Okinawa from 2012 as a replacement for the Boeing CH-46 Sea knight helicopters which were completely retired from service by 2014. A total of 24 MV-22s in 2 squadrons are now deployed in Okinawa. This hybrid aircraft is also at the centre of numerous protests to get the Marines out of Futenma. It is almost synonymous with the US Marine Forces and I have encountered more than once bumper stickers with the "No Osprey" logo as I explored Okinawa Honto ( main island ). In fact there is a No Osprey Movement in Okinawa that is gathering momentum to get rid of the US presence in Okinawa. Okinawans are no longer satisfied to have some of the Marines relocated to Guam. They do not want Futenma relocated to Henoko (辺野古) at the northern part of Okinawa main island near Camp Schwab ( another US military facility ). They want the US out of Okinawa for good.





No オスプレイ ( No Osprey ) 新基地 No!! ( New Military Base No!! ) 美ら海をろう! ( Protect Churaumi which means Beautiful Seas in Okinawan ). Poster to call for the surrounding of the National Assembly building on 25th Jan 2015 by a human chain to protest against the construction of a new US base at Henoko ( 辺野古 ) in the northern part of Okinawa Island.







Poster of No Osprey Movement's assembly in Hibiya, Tokyo, 2013

As I drove past Camp Schwab near Henoko, I witnessed a ragtag group of Okinawans protesting at the gates, some displaying banners, others creating noise and arguing with the police as they attempted to exercise some form of crowd control. I decided to just move on without stopping as it was a potentially explosive situation but it really gave an idea of the popularity of the US forces in Okinawa.

MC-130 Combat Talon Over Motobu

The Motobu Hanto ( 本部半島 ) or Motobu Peninsula is located in the northern part of Okinawa Island. It is rather hilly and is most famous for the world class Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium ( 沖縄美ら海水族館 ) who's huge acrylic tank houses several adult whale sharks and many other sea creatures. I happened to be staying at the Hotel Orion Motobu Resort and Spa within a few minute's walk from the aquarium.



Emerald Beach and part of the Ocean Expo Park viewed from the Orion Motobu Resort and Spa Hotel

As I was taking pictures of the beautiful beach and surf from the 10th storey balcony of my room, I spotted a C-130 in air force grey flying past and quickly took several shots at the maximum focal length of 300mm with my Nikon D750. Only later when I viewed the images on my lap top did I realized that it was a MC-130 Combat Talon from its unique and distinctive nose.





Cropped image of a USAF Lockheed MC-130H Combat Talon II special operations military transport aircraft overflying Motobu, Okinawa Island.





Another photo as the MC-130H receded. Numbers on the tail cannot be resolved for unit identification.

Profile picture of the Lockheed MC-130H Combat Talon II, a perfect match with the photos above. Source : Wikipedia

Further checks revealed this aircraft to be most probably the MC-130H Combat Talon II. I have no idea where it was heading ( probably Kadena Air Base since it was heading south ) or what it was doing that morning on 17th Feb 2015 over the resort beaches of Motobu. Either some special forces dude was busy training or some air force puke was having a joy ride.

It is not everyday that one gets to encounter a MC-130. Back home I am more likely to see a run of the mill C-130B or H variant. In any case, it seems that having military aircraft of some sort fly over your head is a common occurrence in Okinawa, no matter near or far from an air base.

 

 

JMSDF P-3Cs at Naha

When it was time to leave, I was looking out of the window of my airplane while it was berthed at the domestic terminal waiting for take-off and this was very close to what I saw :



A swarm of Lockheed P-3C Orion MPA at the flight line not too far from the civilian domestic terminal of Naha Airport. blogs.yahoo.co.jpsomariworld

I initially thought they were some local turboprop island hopper but several things stood out to suggest otherwise. Firstly the drape paint scheme is rather unlike the usual colourful decors of civilian airlines, especially those of Japanese airlines, where you can sometime see the entire plane being painted over with cartoon characters, fuselage and tail and all. Then I noticed the aircrafts had four engines each and they were relatively huge in size. Island hoppers are usually small short ranged turboprops with two engines. The sheer number of identical aircrafts aligned in neat rows is also unusual for civilian crafts where you are more likely to see a variety of different aircraft models at any one place. So I took a closer look and realized they were P-3Cs. Wasn't sure if they were Japanese or US at that moment looking head-on but of course now I know better. Chinese submarines and surface vessels must have been intruding into Japanese waters regularly in order for Japan to station such a large number of P-3Cs at Okinawa.

 

 



Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Lockheed P-3C Orion MPA over open ocean. JMSDF Photo.

From the moment of arrival to the very last moment before departure, there was never a day that went by without me encountering military personnel, hardware, facility or event of some sort in Okinawa. I would say the military has permeated into every aspect of life in Okinawa and brought about plenty of negative impacts to the ordinary citizens of Okinawa. Apart from the security that came with the stationing of US troops, the only positive impact of 70 years of US occupation is that many Okinawans can speak English, well at least conversational English, much more than the Japanese people from the other 46 prefectures, and I almost forgot to mention, this uniquely Okinawan creation of Taco Rice ( タコライス, takoraisu ).

Fulcrum of the Pivot?

The United States needs to engage Asia have her presence felt in the Western Pacific. Otherwise countries like China, North Korea and Russia would do what they please and most of their intentions are nefarious, to put it mildly. The Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan signed in 1960 dictates that any attacks on Japanese or US interests perpetrated on Japanese administered territories would have to be acted upon by both countries, and to that extend also provides for the continued presence of US military bases on Japanese soil. Okinawa, nicknamed the Keystone of the Pacific by the Americans, however is host to 62% of all US military bases in Japan, despite making up only 0.6% of Japan's total land area. Okinawa, being the poorest, the furthest and the least influential prefecture of Japan thus have to bear a disproportionate burden of accommodating the bulk of United States Forces Japan ( USFJ ) with warts and all while the rest of mainland Japan enjoy the security that the Americans provide. If President Obama has a Pivot to Asia policy, then I assume Okinawa has to be the fulcrum of that pivot.



USFJ Insignia.

Historically, Okinawa was a very important strategic location for the US Forces in the Western Pacific due to its proximity to East Asia and South East Asia. Today, with the Cold War long over and facing forever shrinking defense budgets and the displeasure of the Okinawans, the US should really reassess the need to have a permanent presence in Okinawa. Advancement in weapons technology over the decades may have partially rendered the continued occupation of Okinawa by US Forces redundant. Why forward deploy when you can achieve the same deterrence by having stand-off weapons?

In my opinion, the US could safely withdraw most of her active military personnel currently deployed in Okinawa back to US soil and return most of the base facilities to the Japanese government, only retaining a skeletal crew and fraction of the land for pre-positioning of combat materials. During times of crisis, a rapid reaction force can quickly be dispatched to Okinawa without the need to shift heavy equipment. In that way The US can still uphold her commitment to the defense treaty with Japan.

Futenma can be closed and the land redistributed for other uses. Kadena can be transferred to the JASDF of Naha Air Base so that being the most important and busiest air base in Japan, they do not have to share the runway with civilian aircrafts anymore and Naha Airport can be expanded and redeveloped without the constraints of accommodating the JASDF.

With all that land thus recovered from the US, it might even be possible for Okinawa Island to finally have a rail system to facilitate travel between the various cities and towns. As far as I am aware, Okinawa is the only Japanese prefecture without trains, the closest it can claim is the Yui Monorail which runs from Naha Airport to Shuri Castle, with all of its twelve stations within the confines of Naha City. Even Hokkaido, the northernmost prefecture of Japan, will be getting its Shinkansen or bullet train connection next year ( Hakodate, 2016 ), but Okinawa has nothing!

 

 



The Okinawa Monorail aka Yui Rail of Naha City. Source : Wikipedia

The world will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two this year and US administration of Okinawa had ended 43 years ago. It is time for the US to relinquish the right to occupy Okinawa and put an end to the suffering of the Okinawa people, who did not ask for the War in the first place.