The is a
wing
A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is exp ...
of the
Japan Air Self-Defense Force
The , , also informally referred to as the Japanese Air Force, is the air and space branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace, other air and space operations, cyberwarfare and electronic warfa ...
. Responsible for airborne
search and rescue
Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...
, it is headquartered at
Iruma Air Base
is a Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) base located in the city of Sayama, Saitama Prefecture, north of western Tokyo, Japan.
It was the airfield for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force Academy until 1945, when it became Johnson Air ...
in
Saitama Prefecture
is a landlocked prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Saitama Prefecture has a population of 7,338,536 (1 January 2020) and has a geographic area of 3,797 km2 (1,466 sq mi). Saitama Prefecture borders Tochigi Prefectur ...
and controls squadrons and detachments across Japan. The helicopter airlift squadrons were previously under the authority of Air Support Command. It is equipped with
CH-47J,
UH-60J
The Mitsubishi H-60 series is twin-turboshaft engine helicopter based on the Sikorsky S-70 helicopter family for use by the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). The SH-60J/K/L are anti-submarine patrol versions for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense F ...
and
U-125A aircraft.
History

From 2009 the Air Rescue Wing began training in
air-to-air refueling
Aerial refueling, also referred to as air refueling, in-flight refueling (IFR), air-to-air refueling (AAR), and tanking, is the process of transferring aviation fuel
Aviation fuels are petroleum-based fuels, or petroleum and synthetic fuel b ...
with US forces, and from 2010 two of the JASDF's
401st Tactical Airlift Squadron C-130H aircraft were given air-to-air refueling equipment, allowing them to refuel
UH-60J
The Mitsubishi H-60 series is twin-turboshaft engine helicopter based on the Sikorsky S-70 helicopter family for use by the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). The SH-60J/K/L are anti-submarine patrol versions for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense F ...
helicopters. In June 2017 UH-60JA aircraft of the wing practiced night air-to-air refueling with US forces.
On May 28, 2013 the
Air Rescue Wing Naha Detachment rescued the pilot of an
F-15C
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is an American Twinjet, twin-engine, all-weather Air combat manoeuvring#Tactics, tactical fighter aircraft designed by McDonnell Douglas (now part of Boeing). Following reviews of proposals, the United States ...
of the
US Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...
's
44th Fighter Squadron that had crashed into the ocean off Okinawa.
On October 17, 2017 a JASDF
UH-60J
The Mitsubishi H-60 series is twin-turboshaft engine helicopter based on the Sikorsky S-70 helicopter family for use by the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). The SH-60J/K/L are anti-submarine patrol versions for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense F ...
of the
Hamamatsu Detachment of the Air Rescue Wing crashed into the sea off Shizuoka Prefecture while conducting night rescue drills. Wreckage was found but the four crew members were not located.
On June 11, 2018 the
Naha Detachment rescued the pilot of another US F-15C of the
44th Fighter Squadron that had ejected over the sea off Okinawa.
Units

* Air Rescue Squadron (
UH-60J
The Mitsubishi H-60 series is twin-turboshaft engine helicopter based on the Sikorsky S-70 helicopter family for use by the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). The SH-60J/K/L are anti-submarine patrol versions for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense F ...
,
U-125A)
**
Air Rescue Wing Chitose Detachment (
Chitose Air Base
, is a Japan Air Self-Defense Force base located in Chitose, Hokkaidō, adjacent to New Chitose Airport. It is the JASDF's primary base in northern Japan and tasked with monitoring Japan's maritime borders with Russia. It was also Hokkaidō' ...
)
**
Air Rescue Wing Matsushima Detachment (
Matsushima Air Base)
**
Air Rescue Wing Ashiya Detachment (
Ashiya Air Base
is a military airdrome of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force . It is located north of Ashiya in the Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.
History
Ashiya Airfield was established as a Japanese Army Air Force facility in 1944, and was used primarily as a ...
)
**
Air Rescue Wing Akita Detachment (
Akita Airport)
**
Air Rescue Wing Hyakuri Detachment (
Hyakuri Air Base)
**
Air Rescue Wing Nyutabaru Detachment (
Nyutabaru Air Base)
**
Air Rescue Wing Niigata Detachment (
Niigata Airport)
**
Air Rescue Wing Hamamatsu Detachment (
Hamamatsu Air Base)
**
Air Rescue Wing Naha Detachment (
Naha Air Base
, formally known as the , is an air base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force formerly under control of the United States Air Force. It is located at Naha Airport on the Oroku Peninsula in Naha, Okinawa, Japan.
History Imperial Period
Naha Airf ...
)
**
Air Rescue Wing Komatsu Detachment (
Komatsu Air Base)
**
Air Rescue Wing Komaki Detachment (Training squadron) (
Komaki Air Base)
* Squadrons (
CH-47J)
**
Iruma Helicopter Airlift Squadron (
Iruma Air Base
is a Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) base located in the city of Sayama, Saitama Prefecture, north of western Tokyo, Japan.
It was the airfield for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force Academy until 1945, when it became Johnson Air ...
)
**
Kasuga Helicopter Airlift Squadron (
Kasuga Air Base)
**
Misawa Helicopter Airlift Squadron (
Misawa Air Base
is an air base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), the United States Air Force, and the United States Navy located in Misawa, Aomori, in the northern part of the island of Honshū of Japan. It is located northeast of Misawa rail ...
)
**
Naha Helicopter Airlift Squadron (
Naha Air Base
, formally known as the , is an air base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force formerly under control of the United States Air Force. It is located at Naha Airport on the Oroku Peninsula in Naha, Okinawa, Japan.
History Imperial Period
Naha Airf ...
)
Aircraft operated

*
CH-47J
*
UH-60J
The Mitsubishi H-60 series is twin-turboshaft engine helicopter based on the Sikorsky S-70 helicopter family for use by the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). The SH-60J/K/L are anti-submarine patrol versions for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense F ...
*
U-125A
References
Units of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force
{{Japan-mil-stub