Kisarazu Air Field 木更津飛行場 Kisarazu Hikōjō
IATA:none ICAO:RJTK
Summary
Airport type	Military
Operator	Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Location	Kisarazu, Japan
Elevation AMSL	10 ft / 3 m
Coordinates	35°23′42″N139°54′47″E / 35.39500°N 139.91306°E /35.39500; 139.91306
Website	JGSDF 1st Helicopter Brigade
Map
RJTK Location in Japan
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 02/20 1,830 6,004 Asphalt concrete
Source: JapaneseAIP atAIS Japan[1]

Kisarazu Air Field (木更津飛行場,Kisarazu Hikōjō) (ICAO:RJTK) is a military aerodrome of theJapan Ground Self-Defense ForceJGSDF Camp Kisarazu (木更津駐屯地,Kisarazu Chūtonchi). It is located 1.2 NM (2.2 km; 1.4 mi) north northwest^[1] ofKisarazu in theChiba Prefecture,Japan.

JGSDF Kisarazu is home to theJGSDF 1st Helicopter Brigade, which is attached to theCentral Readiness Force.^[2] operating as a supporting unit for the1st Airborne Brigade and theJapanese Special Forces Group.^[3] The base also supports tenant units from theJapan Maritime Self-Defense Force andJapan Air Self-Defence Force

Kisarazu Air Field was originally established in 1936 as a base for theImperial Japanese Navy Air Service, subordinate to theYokosuka Naval District. It was home to theKisarazu Air Group, theImperial Japanese Navy's first dedicated land-based bomber unit, which saw extensive combat during theSecond Sino-Japanese War andWorld War II. The base was also used for training, and the testing of experimental aircraft, including Japan's first jet-powered aircraft, theNakajima Kikka.

After the end of World War II, from September 1945 the base was used by theUnited States Air Force as "Kisarazu Air Base". In 1956, the base was officially transferred to the control of theJapan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and was used as a training base; although USAF units remained on the base in a tenant capacity until transferred toTachikawa Air Base in 1961. Subsequently, American assets at Kisarazu came under the control of theUnited States Navy. In 1968, the JASDF relocated toIruma Air Base, and Kisarazu was transferred to the control of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

Remaining United States Navy assets were transferred toUnited States Fleet Activities Yokosuka from 1975, and there is currently no American presence at Kisarazu; however, under the terms of theTreaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan, Kisarazu Air Field remains available for use by aircraft of theUnited States 7th Fleet under the name "Kisarazu Auxiliary Landing Field".

In 2014 the Japanese government publicly offered the base as a site for a maintenance hub for maintenance ofV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft operated by theUnited States Marine Corps fromMCAS Futenma inOkinawa. The aircraft require maintenance every six years but the Futenma base lacks the facilities to do it.^[4][5]

The JGSDF will also be acquiring Ospreys which will be maintained at the facility temporarily before an eventual move to Saga, Japan. Civilians from The Boeing Company and Bell Helicopter will assist JGSDF members conducting the maintenance.^[6] Noise level tests were conducted at Kisarazu in October 2016, comparing the Osprey noise to that of aCH-47 Chinook.^[7] There was some opposition from local residents.^[8] Maintenance of the aircraft was to begin from 2017.^[9] An opening ceremony was held on January 12, 2017.^[10]

• Japanese airbases
• Japan Ground Self-Defense Force bases
• Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service

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