Japan shows the E-2 Hawkeye aircraft from Misawa, the bats of its Air Force

Japan has a very good Air Force, with modern fighter jets and also a good fleet of flying radars.

An exhibition of the F-2 Viper Zero, the Japanese fighter that looks like an F-16 but isn't
The impressive formation of Japanese F-35 fighters at the Misawa Airshow

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JSADF) has three early warning aircraft squadrons. Squadron 602, based in Hamamatsu, operates four Boeing E-767s, making Japan the only operator of this AWACS based on the Boeing 767 commercial airliner. In addition, Squadrons 601 (based in Misawa) and 603 (based in Naha) operate E-2C Hawkeye and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft.

In total, the JASDF has 16 Hawkeyes, 10 E-2Cs and 6 E-2Ds. Both models are distributed between the two squadrons that operate this type of aircraft, a flying radar created in the 1960s for the US Navy and whose power plant consists of two Allison/Rolls-Royce T56-A-427 (E-2C) and T56-A-427A (E-2D) turboprop engines.

The E-2 Hawkeye carries a crew of five: the pilot, the co-pilot, a radar operator, a combat information center operator, and an aircraft control operator. Interestingly, Japan requested that its E-2s be equipped with a toilet and microwave oven to make the often lengthy missions these early warning aircraft undertake more bearable.

Today the JASDF released a very good video showcasing the E-2C and E-2D aircraft of the 601 Squadron at Misawa. The aircraft of the 601 and 603 Squadrons are identified by an emblem indicating their common origin (as the 603 Squadron evolved from the 601): a bat holding two lightning bolts in its talons. This is a fitting symbol for this aircraft, as bats detect their prey using high-frequency ultrasound, a system very similar to the radio direction finding technology used by the AN/ALQ-78 radar on these aircraft.

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Main image: 航空自衛隊チャンネル.