Imperial Army Aviation 32nd Kokutai

The 32nd Kokutai (32航空隊) is a Yamatai Imperial Army fixed-wing fighter squadron based in Kazusa Air Base, Chisei, operating under the 23rd Army as part of the Yamatai Mainland Ground Defence Force. The 32nd Kokutai is the only fixed-wing combat aircraft squadron operated by the Yamatai Imperial Army, and is the only unit in the world after Chisei retired its last K-10s in 2005.

History
The 32nd Kokutai was founded on 1 December 1926 along with another 8 squadrons in the nascent Yamatai Imperial Army Air Service. The squadron was formed as a light bomber squadron, and fought in the Second Escar-Varunan War.

In 1965, the majority of land-based aircraft squadrons of both the Imperial Army and the Imperial Navy were consolidated into the newly-established Yamatai Air Defence Force. However, the Army was allowed to maintain helicopter squadrons. Following the outbreak of the Kuijuan War, the Army was allowed to create a dedicated fixed-wing close-air support squadron with Kanayachi K-10 aircraft purchased from Chisei in 1978. The 32nd Kokutai was reactivated and began operating these aircraft after a period of training, seeing some action in the later stages of the war.

Aircraft operated
The 32nd Kokutai operates the Kanayachi K-10 Yushin, a subsonic attack aircraft designed to provide close air support (CAS) to friendly ground troops by attacking armored vehicles, tanks, and other enemy ground forces. Its secondary mission is to direct other aircraft in attacks on ground targets, a role called forward air controller-airborne. In service since 1976, the Imperial Army's K-10s have undergone several upgrade packages. Modern avionics and precision weapon capabilities were installed in 2005. With a variety of upgrades and wing replacements, the K-10's service life can be extended to 2040.

Yamatai is the only country still operating the K-10, which has been retired in Chisei due to the proliferation of modern anti-aircraft systems amongst its chief projected adversaries such as Arshavat and East Kuiju. As Kanayachi no longer produces spare parts for the K-10, parts are produced by Mitsuhishi Aerospace and Kawazaki Aircraft Corporation under license since 2010.

In March 2022, Yamataian Ministry of Defence officials approved the extension of the K-10's service life to 2040 after a fifth wing replacement package is completed by 2025. Imperial Army spokesman 3MO Kawano Tomio stated that with the latest upgrade package, the ageing aircraft would be able to handle modern anti-aircraft systems "with some confidence".

Organisation

 * 32 Kokutai
 * 32 Kokutai HQ
 * 321 Hikotai (K-10)
 * 322 Hikotai (K-10)
 * 323 Hikotai (K-10)
 * 32nd Seibitai (Maintenance)