Japan unveils new antisubmarine patrol planes


TOKYO, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) received the first two of a fleet of next generation P-1 antisubmarine patrol aircraft on Tuesday, with the planes scheduled to be deployed at Atsugi Air Base in Kanagawa Prefecture later this month, local media reported.

The official delivery ceremony held earlier in the day in Gifu Prefecture, central Japan, heralds the beginning of the JMSDF's plans to acquire seven of the high-tech planes to be deployed by March 2014 and a total of 70 P-1s in the long-run, officials said.

The P-1s, designed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. in cooperation with the Defense Ministry, will replace the current over 80 aging P-3 Orion patrol planes used by the JMSDF.

The new planes will undergo two years of operation flight testing, before being fully deployed on patrol duties, officials said.

The P-1 development started in 2001 and planed to finish in March 2012. The process was delayed for one year due to kracks found in its wings and bodies.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/wo..._132263833.htm







In the future, the fleet of P-1 will be further augmented by modified C-1s and new C-2s for more robust strategic airlifting and surveillance capabilities. There are about 30 aircraft of the former in operation, and 40 planes are currently planned for C-2.






One of the centerpiece equipment of JMSDF's AEW and ABMD is AIRBOSS, or Airborne Infra-Red Ballistic missile Observation Sensor System. The system can be mounted on a smaller P-3C aircraft. On a P-1, it could be mounted together with a dorsal MESA radar.



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