The 203rd Tactical Fighter Squadron () is a squadron of the 2nd Air Wing of the

Japan Air Self-Defense Force The , , also informally referred to as the Japanese Air Force, is the air and space branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace, other air and space operations, cyberwarfare and electronic warfa ...

(JASDF) based at

Chitose Air Base , is a Japan Air Self-Defense Force base located in Chitose, Hokkaidō, adjacent to New Chitose Airport. It is the JASDF's primary base in northern Japan and tasked with monitoring Japan's maritime borders with Russia. It was also Hokkaidō ...

, in

Hokkaido Prefecture is Japan's second largest island and comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu; the two islands are connected by the undersea railway Seikan Tunnel. The la ...

, Japan. It is equipped with Mitsubishi F-15J/DJ and

Kawasaki T-4 The Kawasaki T-4 is a Japanese subsonic intermediate jet trainer aircraft developed and manufactured by the commercial conglomerate Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Its sole operator is the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), in part due to historic ...

aircraft. Thompson, Pau
JASDF - Order of Battle July 1, 2017
''J-HangarSpace'' Retrieved September 23, 2017 Thompson, Pau
JASDF - Squadron Histories
''J-HangarSpace'' Retrieved September 23, 2017

History

The squadron was formed at Chitose Air Base at Hokkaido in June 1964 as part of the 2nd Air Wing. It was the third of the JASDF's F-104 units to form. It took over

Quick Reaction Alert Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) is state of readiness and '' modus operandi'' of air defence maintained at all hours of the day by NATO air forces. The United States usually refers to Quick Reaction Alert as 'Airspace Control Alert'. Some non-NATO c ...

duties from the North American F-86D Sabre-equipped 103rd Squadron. On March 24th, 1984 the squadron updated from the F-104 to the F-15J/DJ.

Tail markings

The squadron's aircraft have a stylized 203 with a red line, and a bear resembling a panda.

Aircraft operated

Fighter aircraft

* Lockheed F-104J/DJ Starfighter (1964-1983) *

Mitsubishi F-15J The Mitsubishi F-15J/DJ Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather air superiority fighter based on the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle in use by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). The F-15J was produced under license by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries ...

(1983-present)

Liaison aircraft

* Lockheed T-33A (1964-1992) *

(1992-present)

In popular culture

The squadron appeared in the 1990 film '' Best Guy''.

References

{{Japan Air Self-Defense Force Units of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force