Will The Sun Set On Air Superiority?

Japan possesses one of the most capable air forces in the Asia Pacific alongside the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the United States. Its force of around 370 fast jets is mostly comprised of up to-date and effective fourth generation types.

- Justin Bronk

The Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) is focused on a core of 200 formidable McDonnell Douglas/Boeing F-15J/DJ Eagle fighters. Furthermore, its pilots are well trained and frequently conduct high level training with the US Air Force and other allied air forces to keep their tactical edge. However, in the PRC’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and Navy (PLAN), Japan faces a formidable, and increasingly modern, threat in close proximity to its borders, including active territorial disputes, especially over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea under Japan’s control with their sovereignty disputed by the PRC and the Republic of China. In the face of Chinese (and Russian) air force and air defence modernisation, Japan’s combat fleet is increasingly facing operational obsolescence and technological overmatch. For the JASDF which is restricted in size by Japan’s constitutionally-limited defence budget and has, therefore, been reliant for many decades on technological advantage to adequately defend against a much more numerous PLAAF, the future presents serious challenges. The USAF is also facing its own problems with force size, modernisation and pilot shortages relative to global commitments which is likely to contribute to a long term reduction in the longstanding American capability to establish air superiority over the PRC in the Asia-Pacific; a trend which only increases the requirement for a strong JASDF.