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(which is also referred to as Fleet Air Squadron 51 or VX-51) is a unit in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force. It is a part of the Fleet Air Force and is based at
In 1961 the squadron was formed at Hachinohe Air Base in
Later in 1981 the squadron received Lockheed P-3C Orion aircraft, and in 1983 the Iwakuni detachment was disbanded. In 1989 the squadron received Sikorsky MH-53E aircraft and in 1991 it received SH-60J aircraft. In 1995 it received a UP-3C for equipment testing.
In 2002 it received XSH-60K (USH-60K) aircraft. In 2006 it received MCH-101 aircraft and in 2013 it received Kawasaki P-1 aircraft. In 2014 it received Lockheed C-130R Hercules aircraft.
During efforts to sell the aircraft to the UK, a pair of P-1s including one belonging to of the squadronGady, Franz-Stefan
"Japan Seeks To Export its New Sub-Hunting Plane."
''The Diplomat'', 9 July 2015. were present for the 2015 Royal International Air Tattoo, one aircraft performing a flying display while the other was on static display; this was the first time that any Japanese military aircraft had performed in a European flight display. After their UK appearance, the P-1s proceeded to the Japan Self-Defense Force Base Djibouti at Ambouli International Airport,"P－1哨戒機のジブチで運用試験実施 及び英国ロイヤル・ンターナ 及び英国ロイヤル・ンターナ 及び英国ロイヤル・ンターナショナル・エアタトゥーへの 参加 について."
''Japanese Ministry of Defense'', 7 July 2015.
Naval Air Facility Atsugi
is a joint Japan-US naval air base located in the cities of Yamato, Kanagawa, Yamato and Ayase, Kanagawa, Ayase in Kanagawa Prefecture, Kanagawa, Japan. It is the largest United States Navy (USN) air base in the Pacific Ocean, and once housed ...
in Kanagawa prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Kanagawa Prefecture is the List of Japanese prefectures by population, second-most populous prefecture of Japan at 9,221,129 (1 April 2022) and third-dens ...
.
History
Founding and early history
In 1961 the squadron was formed at Hachinohe Air Base in Aomori Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku region. The prefecture's capital, largest city, and namesake is the city of Aomori (city), Aomori. Aomori is the northernmost prefecture on Japan's main island, Honshu, and is border ...
with six Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune and six Grumman S-2F Tracker aircraft as part of Fleet Air Wing 2. In 1963 it moved to Shimofusa Air Base in Chiba Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Chiba Prefecture has a population of 6,278,060 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of . Chiba Prefecture borders Ibaraki Prefecture to the north, Saitama ...
and came under the authority of Fleet Air Wing 4.
In 1966 it received P-2J aircraft. In 1968 a detachment at MCAS Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. Yamaguchi Prefecture has a population of 1,377,631 (1 February 2018) and has a geographic area of 6,112 Square kilometre, km2 (2,359 Square mile, sq mi). ...
was established. In 1968 the squadron was removed from Fleet Air Wing 4's command and was placed directly under the control of the Fleet Air Force. In 1981 it moved to Atsugi Naval Air Facility in Kanagawa Prefecture
After move to Atsugi
Later in 1981 the squadron received Lockheed P-3C Orion aircraft, and in 1983 the Iwakuni detachment was disbanded. In 1989 the squadron received Sikorsky MH-53E aircraft and in 1991 it received SH-60J aircraft. In 1995 it received a UP-3C for equipment testing.
21st century
In 2002 it received XSH-60K (USH-60K) aircraft. In 2006 it received MCH-101 aircraft and in 2013 it received Kawasaki P-1 aircraft. In 2014 it received Lockheed C-130R Hercules aircraft.
During efforts to sell the aircraft to the UK, a pair of P-1s including one belonging to of the squadronGady, Franz-Stefan"Japan Seeks To Export its New Sub-Hunting Plane."
''The Diplomat'', 9 July 2015. were present for the 2015 Royal International Air Tattoo, one aircraft performing a flying display while the other was on static display; this was the first time that any Japanese military aircraft had performed in a European flight display. After their UK appearance, the P-1s proceeded to the Japan Self-Defense Force Base Djibouti at Ambouli International Airport,
Djibouti
Djibouti, officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Somalia to the south, Ethiopia to the southwest, Eritrea in the north, and the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to the east. The country has an area ...
, to continue with operational trials within tropical and desert climates.''Japanese Ministry of Defense'', 7 July 2015.
Squadron structure
The squadron is composed of two flights: * 511th Flight is equipped with fixed-wing aircraft: Kawasaki P-1 & UP-1, Lockheed P-3C & UP-3C Orions * 513th flight is equipped with helicopters: Sikorsky SH-60J/K & USH-60K SeahawksReferences
{{reflist Aviation in Japan Units and formations of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Military units and formations established in 1961