
Interesting footage shows a Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15J using its M61 gun.
On Jun. 20, some 24 hours before Japan’s military was put on alert for a possible North Korean ballistic missile launch, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force posted an interesting 27-minute video on their Youtube channel.
The clip, titled “Protecting our Peaceful Sky,” shows all the JASDF weapons systems at work and includes an F-15J firing its M61 six-barrel Gatling-style rotary cannon during a training intercept mission: you won’t find many air-to-air videos showing the Vulcan cannon at work on the Eagle.
The scene can be seen at 07:06 in the video.
The M61 Vulcan, that equips several modern combat planes including the F-16, the F/A-18 and the F-22, fires 20mm rounds at a rate of about 6,000 rounds per minute.
H/T Alert 5
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When did F-15J pilots start using JHMCS? It’s about time.
There F-15 fleet is going through a very slow phased upgrade with new new radars, custom inbuilt IRST above the radar dome and probably air frame life extension. With no formal replacement plans they’ll probably have to serve another 20 years. Japan’s fighter gap is probably worse the the US Air Force’s because of a lack of funds and suitable aircraft available to replace the F-15s.
Is there a more widely used aircraft gun than the Vulcan? Many aircraft have used it over the years:
B-52
B-58
F-104
F-105
F-106
F-4
F-14
F-15
F-16
F/A-18
Super Hornet
F-22
Japanese F-2
Taiwan F-CK-1
A-7 Corsair II
F-111
(There was even a YF-12 Blackbird concept that would have carried one.)
Twin engines spooling to full blast always a beautiful noise.
even thought I couldn’t understand 99 words out of 100, I really enjoyed the video. I have a bizarre interest in everything JSDF so this was right up my alley. Cheers