Yamatai Air Defence Force

The Yamatai Air Defence Force (山都航空防衛隊; YADF, KuBo) is the air, space, and anti-aircraft warfare branch of the Yamataian Armed Forces. The YADF is responsible for the defence of Yamataian airspace, other air and space operations, cyberwarfare and electronic warfare. The YADF carries out combat air patrols around Yamatai, while also maintaining a network of ground and air early-warning radar systems. Beyond the nation's borders, the YADF has provided air transport and support for Ordic League peacekeeping and HECO coalition activities, with multiple squadrons operating from joint bases in Chisei and elsewhere. The aerobatics team of the YADF are known as the Sakura Cranes.

Unlike the other branches of the Yamataian military, the Air Defence Force does not have the term "Imperial" in its name as it was created by an act of the Teikoku Gikai, and not an order from the Empress of Yamatai.

History
Prior to 1965, both the Imperial Army and Imperial Navy operated their own Air Services.

Okudera Gunzo


 * War ended with them using Reppus and Raidens.
 * 1950: Mi-15 Keiun
 * 1952: Mi-17 Kyokko
 * 1955: Mi-

Upon the lifting of the ban on military aircraft production in Yamatai, Yamatai saw the return of large numbers of aerospace designers and scientists who had gone abroad to avoid losing out on gaining valuable experience in the recently-dawned jet age. The first jet fighter received by the nascent Imperial Air Force was the Mitsuhishi Mi-11 Keiun, with the first example delivered to the Imperial Air Force arriving in time to be flown on display during the 1956 National Unification Day parade. Subsequently, the Imperial Air Force would also take delivery of the Mitsuhishi Mi-14 Kyokko in 1958 and the Mitsuhishi Mi-22 Gekko in 1959.

However, Yamatai still lagged behind the other Escaric nations in terms of combat aircraft. A major concern at the time due to the proximity of communist Hinomoto and the threat of total war with Arshavat, the Imperial Air Force began a crash modernisation project that began with the purchase of the fighter from Chisei in 1968. The Imperial Air Force was instrumental in the 1970 Hinoan War, providing heavy logistics support and engaging Hinoan ground assets for coalition forces.

Yamatai, through Mitsuhishi and Kawazaki, were participants of the project. Mitsuhishi contributed airframe components while Kawazaki worked with Chiseian corporations to design and manufacture the joint fighter's afterburning turbofans. The Yamataian variant of the Escarfighter, the, was received by the Imperial Air Force in 1981 after a five-year delay due to budgetary problems. Though the adoption of the Mi-37 was carried out smoothly, the Imperial Air Force would soon be hit with budget cuts that affected the entire Yamataian military during this period. In 1986, an aggressive modernisation project was carried out, scrapping all pre-1965 aircraft, upgrading the current airframes and strengthening the national air defence network. Mitsuhishi was able to win the licence from Funmyō to produce the Mitsuhishi Type-45 Karura Kai in 1989, as well as the ability to produce spare parts and upgrade the Imperial Air Force's pre-existing T-4s to the Kai standard.

As the Imperial Air Force shifted its focus to regional defence against Arshavat, the first permanent overseas Imperial Air Force base, Dengaku Airbase, was opened in 1997 in Chisei, housing the 15th Air Wing and 7th Air Defence Missile Group. Subsequent modernisation of the Imperial Air Force included the adoption of the new Mitsuhishi Mi-56 Hayabusa in 2000. In 2003, the Imperial Air Force ran the Next Generation Stealth Air Superiority Fighter competition, seeking to purchase a robust stealth interceptor aircraft capable of interdicting Arshavati bomber formations at extreme range. The winner of the competition, the Mitsuhishi Mi-04 Shinshin, was delivered to the Imperial Air Force in mid 2009.

The Imperial Air Force was once again involved in and a recipient of the, notable for its tumultuous development cycle, with the first fighter only delivered in 2015. Despite being the second-largest investor in the project, Yamatai reduced their order to STOVL airframes, split 15-30 between the Air Force and the Yamatai Imperial Navy, with interest having dwindled due to the Imperial Navy having recently purchased the STOVL Kawazaki Ki-0 Reisen II for their carrier-based aircraft needs.

In January 2019, the Imperial Air Force received the first production Kawazaki Ki-9 Hagetaka, a single-seat air superiority stealth fighter developed to eventually replace the Karura and later the Mitsuhishi Escarfighters completely. The Ki-9 had been in development since 2008 and was revealed to have been a reason the Imperial Air Force lost interest in the Escarfighter II project.

Organisation
The major units of the Imperial Air Force are the Air Combat Command, Air Support Generation Command, Air Force Training Command, Air Development and Test Command, and Air Materiel Command. The Air Combat Command is responsible for the planning, control and execution of the air battle in operations. The Air Support Generation Command is responsible for ensuring timely and accurate air support is provided to other branches of the military during operations. Air Force Training Command is responsible for basic flying and technical training. The Air Development and Test Command, in addition to overseeing equipment research and development, is also responsible for research and development in such areas as flight medicine. Air Materiel Command is responsible for overseeing and executing the aerial logistics needs of the Imperial Air Force as well as the Yamataian military in general.

The Air Combat Command has five regional headquarters overseeing five major air defence zones. All five regional headquarters control surface-to-air missile units of both the Air Force and the Army located in their respective areas. These zones are the Northern, Western, Southern, Central and Mainland Air Defence Command Zones.

Airbases

 * Harada Air Base

Uniforms of the Imperial Air Force
Similar to the rest of the Yamataian military, the Imperial Air Force primarily uses two working uniforms, designated the No. 3 and No. 4 dress. The Air Force uses the same No. 1 and No. 2 uniforms as the other service branches.

The No. 3 uniform is a service uniform used for official events, receptions and while performing office duties. It comprises of a white short-sleeved buttoned shirt with rank epaulettes, dark blue pants, and polished black shoes. Officers wear a eastern-style jacket over the shirt during official functions. During the winter months, a dark blue sweater may be worn over the uniform. Any badges or awards are worn over the left breast unless stated otherwise in the All-Service Military Uniform Guidelines Act for particular awards, such as foreign badges or flying wings, which are worn on the right.

The No. 4 uniform is a utility uniform typically worn during fatigue work or for everyday wear purposes. The uniform sports a pixelated camouflage consisting of two shades of blue, grey, and brown on a grey background. Like the rest of the Yamataian military, the No. 4 uniform has become the general everyday wear for military personnel due to its comfort and versatility. Air defence personnel, such as those operating surface-to-air missiles or performing base security duties, typically wear the woodland dots pattern also used by the Imperial Army for practical purposes, given the low camouflage provided by the Air Force camouflage scheme.

More specialised troops, such as pilots and maintenance technicians, are also issued uniforms required for their field, such as flight suits or maintenance coveralls. Similar to the Army and Navy, the Air Force's one-piece maintenance coveralls are issued in the same camouflage pattern as the No. 4 dress.

Equipment
The Imperial Air Force maintains an integrated network of radar installations and air defence direction centres throughout the country, known as the Basic Air Defence Ground Environment. In the late 1980s, the system was modernised and augmented with Chiseian early warding aircraft. Yamatai relies on fighter-interceptor aircraft and surface-to-air missiles to intercept hostile aircraft. Both of these systems were improved from the beginning of the late 1980s. The Imperial Air Force also provides air support for ground and sea operations of the Army and Navy, and air defence for bases of all the forces. Base defences were upgraded in the early 1990s with new surface-to-air missiles, modern anti aircraft artillery and new fixed and mobile aircraft shelters.

As Yamatai's military expanded its defence mission to include Chisei and West Jiquan in the 21st century, the Imperial Air Force has also worked closely with the Chiseian Royal Air Force to create a robust shared radar picket and air-defence web against Arshavati incursions.

Future aircraft
Projects currently in development include the Escarfighter Mid-Life Revival Project with Chisei, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, and the Fugaku Youkai Storm Stealth UAV.