Japan Air Self-Defence Force

Japan Air Self-Defense Force
航空自衛隊
Japan Air Self-Defense Force emblem
Founded	July 1, 1954
Country	Japan
Type	Air force
Role	Aerial warfare
Size	50,324 personnel (2013) 777 aircraft
Part of	Japan Self-Defense Forces
Garrison/HQ	Ichigaya, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Motto(s)	"Key to Defense, Ready Anytime!"
Website	www.mod.go.jp/asdf
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	PM Shinzō Abe
Minister of Defense	Tomomi Inada
Chief of Staff, Joint Staff	Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano
Chief of the Air Staff	General Yoshiyuki Sugiyama
Insignia
Roundel
Ensign
Aircraft flown
Attack	F-2
Electronic warfare	E-767, EC-1, E-2C
Fighter	F-4EJ, F-15J/DJ, F-2, F-35A
Helicopter	UH-60J, CH-47J, KV-107
Interceptor	F-15J
Trainer	F-15DJ, T-7, T-400, T-4
Transport	C-1, C-2, KC-767J, C-130H, Boeing 747-400

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (航空自衛隊^?, Kōkū Jieitai), or JASDF, is the aviation branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace and for other aerospace operations. The JASDF carries out combat air patrols around Japan, while also maintaining an extensive network of ground and air early-warning radar systems. The branch also has an aerobatic team known as Blue Impulse and has recently become involved in providing air transport in several UN peacekeeping missions.

The JASDF had an estimated 50,324 personnel as of 2013^[update], and as of 2013^[update] operated 777 aircraft, approximately 373 of them fighter aircraft.

Before forming the Japanese Self-Defense Forces after World War II, Japan did not have a separate air force. Aviation operations were carried out by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service and the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service. Following World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy were dissolved and later replaced by the JSDF with the passing of the 1954 Self-Defense Forces Law, with the JASDF as the aviation branch.