Forum: General F-16 forum

16 February 2012:
F-2.
JASDF, based at Tsuiki AB.
16:45, during Australia-Japan-USA joint exercise, above Pacific Ocean, 170 km northeast of Guam, dropped two fuel tanks into ocean.

Diameter, 80 cm. Length, 6 m. Weight, empty, 170 kg.

Pilot mistake.

15:15, took off, at Andersen AB, Guam.

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/2012021 ... 71000.html
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20120 ... 6-yom-soci

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Enthusiast Joined: Jun 10, 2010 - 02:44 AM Posts: 44

Gamera-san, keep posting F-2 news Smile

I was stationed at Komaki AB for six months last year, and got to see plenty of F-2s taking off that were at the Mitsubishi facility at Komaki.

Gamera wrote:

16 February 2012:F-2.

http://mainichi.jp/area/fukuoka/news/20 ... 0000c.html

2012.02.21:
Pilot (46) decided to drop chaff, but pushed the switch that dropped the drop tanks.

Put a yellow stickie on it so he doesn't make the same mistake again.

[Link pending approval];id=news/awst/2012/02/27[Link pending approval];headline=Japan%20Upgrades%20Air-to-Air&next=0

seems like a significant update

http://www.asagumo-news.com/news/201204 ... 40517.html

A summary of the JASDF aspect of the JMOD budget for fiscal year Heisei 24 (2012).

WRT jet fighters...

F-35:
F-X winner F-35A will replace F-4.
The budget will acquire four aircraft and one training simulator.
Target is 42 aircraft.

F-15:
Two aircraft will upgrade their central computer, fighter datalink system, and radar.
Also, HMD interacts with AAM-5 Type 04 AAM.

One aircraft will upgrade its ECM, RWR, and launching type countermeasure, for better self-protection.

F-2:
12 aircraft will upgrade their radar for AAM-4 Type 99 AAM.
20 aircraft will add JDAM ability.

WRT transports...

C-2 will replace C-1.
Two new aircraft will deploy in Heisei 28 (2016).
Two aircraft will first deploy at Miho AB in Heisei 26-27.
Tests continue at Gifu AB.

(Cannot read serial numbers in news photos.)

http://www.sanriku-kahoku.com/news/2012 ... akiti.html

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/e-japan/miyagi ... T00008.htm

http://mainichi.jp/area/miyagi/news/201 ... 6000c.html

10 April 2012:
9:40, at Matsushima AB, Miyagi Prefecture, two F-2 from Misawa AB, Aomori Prefecture, landed.
First time F-2 landed at Matsushima AB, one year one month after tsunami.
Part of evaluation to decide if return flight training to Matsushima AB.
4.3 km south of AB, four metres high anti-tsunami barrier constructing.

Gamera wrote:

F-35:
F-X winner F-35A will replace F-4.
The budget will acquire four aircraft and one training simulator.
Target is 42 aircraft.

See what it takes to replace a Rhino?? In most cases, the F-4 is being replaced by 5th-generation stealth aircraft. That's pretty good for a naval interceptor that first flew in 1958, less than 15 years after WWII Wink

http://www.asagumo-news.com/news/201204 ... 42604.html

19 April 2012:
One year and one month after 3.11 earthquake and tsunami, F-2 training resumed, at Matsushima AB, Miyagi Prefecture.
First F-2 that landed was F-2B #124.
Pilots were Lieutenant Colonel Hama Hiroshi and Captain Takahashi Naoki.
Hama was CO, 21st Hikoutai, 4th Koukuudan, based at Matsushima AB.
During 3.11, #124 survived because it was at Misawa AB, Aomori Prefecture, for scheduled maintenance.

http://www.amazon.co.jp/JASDF-F-2-2012% ... B007HA8TMC

Seems a new Japanese mook about the F-2 has come out on 2012.04.19.

ASIN: B007HA8TMC

you wouldn't happen to know if any English books on it exist do you? I have only even run into a rand corporation book on it

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123309140

Arizona Airmen help Japanese rebuild air defenses

Posted 7/9/2012 Updated 7/10/2012

7/9/2012 - TUCSON, Ariz. (AFNS) -- While the island nation of Japan continues to rebuild in the wake of the March 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, its airmen look to reconstitute the country's air defenses - learning to fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon here with the Arizona Air National Guard.

http://flyteam.jp/news/article/18482

8 January 2013:
JASDF will send eight F-2A (3rd Koukuudan at Misawa AB), six F-15J (83rd Koukuutai at Naha AB), three E-2C, two C-130H, two KC-767, and 432 personnel to Cope North 2013 at Guam, on 4 to 15 February 2013.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/news/ ... T00341.htm

22 January 2013:
New Defense Minister Onodera went to Matsushima AB, Miyagi Prefecture, and he hoped Blue Impulse would return to Matsushima AB.
During tsunami, one of nine Blue Impulse T-4 was damaged.

On sea side of Matsushima AB, ground is raised by about three metres.
Two hangars are building.
These constructions will complete by late March.
By fiscal year 2015, 13 of 18 damaged F-2 may complete maintenance.

That's interesting news to hear that 13 of 18 damaged F-2 are expected to complete maintenance and one could assume return to service?

Personally, I feel there was a mistaken high level military/self-defense/political/industrial decision made somewhere to cancel a more complete production of originally required F-2s. Perhaps another 60 updated F-2 airframes could have replaced the F-4/F-1 and sufficiently equipped JASDF with Tactical assets until Japan's next-gen platform achieved successful development and became operational to begin recapitalizing the legacy force structure (starting around 2025?)?

The F-2 is would appear to be a fairly able jet with plenty of room for further modernization and capability enhancements as they became required and developed. It has a highly competitive roll rate and seemingly effective AoA and sustained turning performance.

A further 40-60 units or so could have come with an upgraded avionics suite and possibly other innovative upgrades such as the upgraded GE-132 motor (TVC-optional) for added durability and maintenance-friendliness, and maybe even an F-2 specialized CFT to couple with the centerline tank config (eg, perhaps something similar to the F-CK-1's low-profile CFT?). Call it a day. Respects.

Forum: General F-16 forum

JASDF F-2 Update