Mine Countermeasures Helicopter Squadron 111 (JMSDF)

Mine Countermeasures Helicopter Squadron 111 (第111航空隊, dai-111-koukuutai) is a squadron of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. It operates MCH-101 aircraft.^[1][2]

Mine Countermeasures Helicopter Squadron 111
第111航空隊
111 Squadron MCH-101
Active	February 16, 1974 - present
Country	Japan
Allegiance	Fleet Air Force
Branch	Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Aircraft flown
Multirole helicopter	MCH-101

As of 2016 there were seven MCH-101 aircraft in service with the squadron and plans for a total of 11. There were also discussions for the purchase for over a dozen additional aircraft.^[3]

History

Two retired MH-53E helicopters of the squadron were sold to the US in 2015 for their components. The US was running short of parts for its own fleet of the aging aircraft.^[4][5]

Current aircraft

• 10 AgustaWestland MCH-101 helicopters (2008–present)^[6]

Aircraft operated

Sikorsky MH-53E Sea Dragon of 111 Squadron

• KV-107II-3/KV-107IIA-3 (1974-1990)
• Sikorsky MH-53E Sea Dragon (1990-2017)

References

1. Thompson, Paul (September 1, 2017). "JMSDF Order of Battle". J-HangarSpace. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
2. "航空機". Ministry of Defense (Japan). Retrieved October 13, 2017. (in Japanese)
3. "Japan eyeing fresh order of AW101 helicopters". flightglobal.com. June 22, 2016. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
4. Hixenbaugh, Mike (May 28, 2015). "U.S. Navy buys old helicopters from Japan for spare parts". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
5. "U.S. to buy parts for MH-53 Sea Dragon helicopters from Japan". Reuters. May 28, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
6. Defence of Japan 2022 (Annual White Paper). p.53. Japan Ministry of Defence