In the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), the Fleet Air Force (Japanese: 航空集団, romanized: kōkū shūdan) is its naval aviation branch, responsible for both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft[1][2] and headquartered in Naval Air Facility Atsugi.

[5]: 5  During the 1980s, the JMSDF's force of 82 Neptunes (most of which were the locally built Kawasaki P-2J variant) was replaced by about 100 Lockheed P-3 Orions.

[5]: 10  The JMSDF's first combat helicopters were the Mitsubishi HSS-2 (the Japanese variant of the Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King).

The Asahi Shimbun quotes Japan's Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya “The Izumo-class aircraft carrier role is to strengthen the air defense in the Pacific Ocean and to ensure the safety of the Self-Defense Force pilots.” He also states, “There may be no runway available for the US aircraft in an emergency.

I cannot say that the US F-35B should never be placed on an [JMSDF] escort vessel.” [7] The current plan is for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to operate the aircraft once delivered.