Mine Countermeasures Helicopter Squadron 111 (JMSDF)

Mine Countermeasures Helicopter Squadron 111 (第111航空隊, dai-111-koukuutai) is a squadron of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. It operates MCH-101 aircraft.^[1][2]

Mine Countermeasures Helicopter Squadron 111
第111航空隊
111 Squadron MCH-101
Active	February 16, 1974 - present
Country	Japan
Allegiance	Fleet Air Force
Branch	Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Aircraft flown
Multirole helicopter	MCH-101

As of 2016 there were seven MCH-101 aircraft in service with the squadron and plans for a total of 11. There were also discussions for the purchase for over a dozen additional aircraft.^[3]

History

Two retired MH-53E helicopters of the squadron were sold to the US in 2015 for their components. The US was running short of parts for its own fleet of the aging aircraft.^[4][5]

Current aircraft

• 10 AgustaWestland MCH-101 helicopters (2008–present)^[6]

Aircraft operated

Sikorsky MH-53E Sea Dragon of 111 Squadron

• KV-107II-3/KV-107IIA-3 (1974-1990)
• Sikorsky MH-53E Sea Dragon (1990-2017)