The , Dai-ichi Herikoputa-Dan is based at JGSDF Camp Kisarazu in

Kisarazu is a Cities of Japan, city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 136,023 in 63,431 households and a population density of 980 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Geography Kisarazu is locat ...

, in

Chiba Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Chiba Prefecture has a population of 6,278,060 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of . Chiba Prefecture borders Ibaraki Prefecture to the north, Saitama Prefecture to t ...

. Formerly an independent brigade, it was attached to the

Central Readiness Force The was established on March 28, 2007, following the upgrading of the Japanese Defense Ministry from the former Japanese Defense Agency. It was initially based at Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) Camp Asaka in Nerima, Tokyo. The command s ...

on March 28, 2007. Like most JGSDF units, the brigade's aircraft are deployed to conduct exercises from their Kisarazu base annually during the

New Year New Year is the time or day currently at which a new calendar year begins and the calendar's year count increments by one. Many cultures celebrate the event in some manner. In the Gregorian calendar, the most widely used calendar system ...

period. The brigade operates under the Ground Component Command ( ja, 陸上総隊), formerly with the

, as a supporting unit for the Central Readiness Regiment (CRR), 1st Airborne Brigade and the Japanese Special Forces Group (SFGp) if deployed into a combat zone. Prior to the brigade's integration into the CRF, it had been actively involved in civil disaster operations in response to

natural disaster A natural disaster is "the negative impact following an actual occurrence of natural hazard in the event that it significantly harms a community". A natural disaster can cause loss of life or damage property, and typically leaves some econ ...

s such as

forest fires A wildfire, forest fire, bushfire, wildland fire or rural fire is an unplanned, uncontrolled and unpredictable fire in an area of combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identif ...

and

earthquakes An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, fro ...

History

The 1st Helicopter Brigade was first established on March 20, 1959, by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Aviation School at JGSDF Camp Kasumigaura in

Kasumigaura, Ibaraki 260px, Kasumigaura Bridge 260px, Kasumigaura History Museum is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 40,254 in 15,839 households and a population density of 257 persons per km². The percentage of ...

. After the brigade was established, two helicopter companies were created on March 1, 1968, during a period of reorganization. The 1st Helicopter Company was stationed at JGSDF Camp Kisarazu on March 22, 1968, with the 2nd Helicopter Company arriving on June 1, 1968. A special transport squad was established in the brigade on December 19, 1986. Another period of reorganization began on March 27, 2006, when a communications and reconnaissance squad was added to the unit. On March 28, 2007, the 1st Helicopter Brigade was formally incorporated into the

. The brigade was deployed by the Central Readiness Force on its first operation to subdue

wildfire A wildfire, forest fire, bushfire, wildland fire or rural fire is an unplanned, uncontrolled and unpredictable fire in an area of combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identi ...

s in the forests of the

Yamanashi Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu. Yamanashi Prefecture has a population of 817,192 (1 January 2019) and has a geographic area of 4,465 km2 (1,724 sq mi). Yamanashi Prefecture borders Saitama Prefecture to the ...

on April 29, 2007. They have been also deployed on humanitarian operations, specifically in the aftermath of the March 2011 earthquake. On March 26, 2020, the 1HB has established an aviation corp to manage V-22 Ospreys for the ARDB. The Ospreys are due to be deployed to Kisarazu with plans to be deployed at

Saga Airport is an airport in the Kawasoe area of Saga, Saga Prefecture, Japan. It also uses the unofficial name . Saga Airport is located on the edge of the Ariake Sea, in what is best called a polder, 35 minutes from JR Saga Station by bus. History T ...

in the future. One CH-47J helicopter squadron is to be at JGSDF Vice Camp Takayubaru.

Aircraft in service

JGSDF 1st Airborne Brigade 20080113(Narashino)

The 1st Helicopter Brigade currently utilize the following aircraft for the Ground Component Command:

Formation

*Headquarters ** Headquarters and Service Company ( OH-6D) *1st Transportation Helicopter Group ** 103rd Flight Squadron ( CH-47J/JA) ** 104th Flight Squadron (CH-47J/JA) ** 105th Flight Squadron (CH-47J/JA) ** 106th Flight Squadron (CH-47J/JA) *102nd Flight Squadron ( UH-60JA, OH-6D) *Special transportation helicopter Squadron ( EC 225LP) *Communications and Reconnaissance Squadron (

LR-1 The Mitsubishi MU-2 is a Japanese high-wing, twin-engine turboprop aircraft with a pressurized cabin manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. It made its maiden flight in September 1963 and was produced until 1986. It is one of postwar Jap ...

, LR-2) *Field Maintenance Party

References

External links

1st Helicopter Brigade's Official Page
* {{JGSDF Units Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Brigade Military units and formations established in 1959 Helicopter units and formations 1959 establishments in Japan