Japan Air Self Defense Force

Mitsubishi F-2 “Viper Zero”: Japan’s Fighter Derived From The F-16

April 29, 2020 Markus Schrader

JASDF Fighter carries a name that is a combination of the unofficial nickname of the F-16 (“Viper”) and the well-known Mitsubishi A6M Zero. At the beginning of the 1980s, the Japanese Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) […]

“Goodbye Woodpecker”: Dramatic Video Shows JASDF Photo Phantoms Last Flight

March 15, 2020 David Cenciotti

“Shark 901”, the first RF-4E imported from the United States to Japan in 1974 was the last aircraft to land. On Mar. 9, 2020, the Japan Air Self Defense Force retired its RF-4E/Js at Hyakuri […]

Hyakuri’s Last Samurais: Japan Air Self Defense Force Phantom Exposed

March 2, 2020 Markus Schrader

We visited the base of the last two JASDF Phantom units ahead of the type retirement. With the decommissioning of the 302 Hikotai on March 25, 2019 (Fiscal Year 2018) only two squadrons of the […]

Here’s Another Cool Video Of Japan’s Last RF-4E Phantoms in Action

February 3, 2020 David Cenciotti

We never get tired of videos of the last F-4s coming from Japan! We have published several videos lately and we will continue to post new ones until the Samurai Phantoms continue to operate in […]

Another “Phantastic” Video Shows The Japanese Phantoms Flying The First Sorties Of Their Last Operational Year

January 19, 2020 David Cenciotti

Here are the F-4EJ and RF-4E/EJ jets launching from Hyakuri at the beginning of their last operational year in the JASDF (Japanese Air Self Defense Force). Fantastic (or if you prefer, considered the topic, “Phantastic”) […]