US-2 amphibian.
The Yomiuri Shimbun says Japan’s Ministry of Defense is looking into adapting Japan’s latest generation of indigenous military planes for commercial use. The XC-2 transport, XP-1 maritime patrol aircraft, and US-2 amphibian plane would have their military systems stripped out and sold to commercial airlines and governments. The XC-2 would become a civilian heavy lifter, the P-1 a passenger aircraft, and US-2 a search and rescue or firefighting plane.
Japan’s production runs of military equipment are often so small that they don’t benefit from economies of scale. This would be a step towards realizing some savings based on larger production runs.
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A contributor and editor at the blog War Is Boring, Kyle Mizokami started Japan Security Watch in 2010 to further understand Japan's defenses and security policy.
Kyle Mizokami has 530 post(s) on Japan Security Watch
13 comments
XC-2 vs. A400M Mini Smackdown | Japan Security Watch says:
Jul 15, 2010
[...] the news about the troubled Airbus A400M airlifter program and a recent article about selling Kawasaki XC-2s on the civilian market, I was curious as to how both aircraft stacked up side by side. I haven’t really followed [...]
Japan’s largest business lobby: arms ban a threat to the nation | Japan Security Watch says:
Aug 26, 2010
[...] to participate in a sector that is constantly shrinking. The government is floating the idea of selling some defense equipment in civilian form, such as the new C-2 transport, P-1 maritime patrol aircraft, and US-2 amphibian aircraft, in order [...]
The DEW Line: Second Kawasaki XC-2 Flies | Japan Security Watch says:
Feb 1, 2011
[...] the ban on arms sales the XC-2 is currently not available for export, but the Japanese government is looking to sell civilian versions of the aircraft on the world commercial aircraft market. Share and [...]
Robert says:
Jul 4, 2011
At some point if Japan has any desire to remain a psuedo independent nation then among other issues, far to numerous to mention here, the Japanese leaders are going to have to address the following fact. While every other nation that surrounds them or has significant issues with them,with the possible exception of Russia, are growing by leaps and bounds,has cheaper labor, has a lower standard of living and generally pays a lot and I emphasize a lot less for their weapons, Japan is going to have to loosen their policies on weapons exports,and joint development.If a nations leaders job is to see the big picture then this will have to done for the nations future survival.
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Tri-ring says:
Jul 5, 2011
Robert
Policy of military equipment export is going to be become lax with an example of SM-3 block2A to be exported from Japan to Europe upon request from the US due to restriction in the US.
That said it will still be a long way for Japan to export weapons like MBT, military ships and/or fighter planes that can do direct damage to their opponents.
As for joint projects I wonder which nation, beside the US, Japan will choose if this becomes an option.
Basically the partner would need to provide their advance technology that Japan does not possess to the table to make this happen.
What kind of technology would they offer in exchange?
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Robert says:
Jul 5, 2011
I would think that this article mentions a very example of what Japan could offer .The new Xc-2 is an excellent oppportunity for Japan to take some baby steps towards export.I think joint developement would be key here also for Japan.Were I in charge I would even pull a china and offer something at a loss to get the business.One other problem is due to the ineptness of Japanese diplomacy(or actually the belief tht the U.S. will take care of everything) the Japanese have not put themselves in a position to say sell to the Phillipines which would be glad to get their hands on some Japanese secondhand naval equipment.You have to see the big picture if you are going to make it and Japan due that gosh awful treaty is really falling further behind.
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Tri-ring says:
Jul 5, 2011
Robert
sales of the XC-2 is hardly what I call an joint development since it's already flying. In fact I believe if BAE, LM and/or Boeing are willing to joint marketing the plane it could be sold today.
Kawasaki provides the commercial version and the joint venture overseas military company provides the military hardware to make it into a military version. Same with the P-1. As for US-2, does it need any military hardware?
Japan would probably be able to make considerable amount of cash just by selling off it military hardware that are going to be decommissioned as well since to a developing nation most of the hardware are still state of the art like the Harusio class SSKs and/or the Asagiri class DDs.
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Robert says:
Jul 6, 2011
What I say is the XC-2 would be an excellent item to export,then I make the point that joint developement would be an avenue for the Japanese to explore. I am not referring to the XC-2 as a joint project as I believe it is an all Japanese project.I agree with you on the other points
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Robert says:
Jul 8, 2011
Tri -ring I just noticed the rest of your post # 2 I dont think The Phillipines have any money or tech to offer but I sure would like to Japan to take a look at not really jointness but really just offering some older equipment or offering to help with training.Indonesia would have been good but the Koreans have been working them pretty hard from what I read.I really think that Japan would be well served by trying to work out some sort of deals with the countries that are closet to them with the exception of China.Japan could, if they had been more proactive really developed some serious ties with some of their neighbors and they still can if they will look at the bigger picture and if your priority is your countrys security then you have to do that and not hope that a third party(U.S.) will do it. That would be like me hoping that my banker will look out for my retirement.He might look after the money in my accounts with his bank but long term he is looking out for his retirement not mine.
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Tri-ring says:
Jul 8, 2011
Robert
Reading the recent account of JSDF making various agreements with other nations I believe there is a possibility in the future since it is not completely unheard of. In the past Japan provided a coastguard cutter in the name of protecting the sea lane against pirates to the Indonesians.
Japan also donates a lot of used train carts to the Philippines and other South East Asian nations to promote connectivity so it enhances economic growth.
Japan's national strategy from the start was to promote economic growth in other nations within the region so nations can buy more Japanese produced products. This included PRC.
Yes you can say it was too idealistic but it did stimulate the regional economy beyond any previous forecast done in the early 80's.
I guess now Japan now needs to really consider the regional security issue to maintain
stability within the region to continue economic growth.
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Robert says:
Jul 10, 2011
I hope you are right.One difference between then and now are the Chinese and their bellicose drive to rebalance the Asia-Pacific.I think it behooves the Japanese to make themselves needed by the smaller countries ala the U.S.Like the U.S. you do this by giving for free or a large discount all sorts of stuff, but the military stuff makes the biggest splash,and then you tell everybody who will listen what you just did.The U.S. does this better than anybody else and after 70 something years of experiencing this by the U.S. you would think Japan would have taken notes.I think Japan is trying to look at some of these things to counter China and hope they succeed
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Tri-ring says:
Jul 12, 2011
There are some conditions that the host nation need to provide in order for Japan to move forward though.
First, acknowledgment and vocal confirmation of Japan's post war effort to normalize the region and had repented all acts Japan had caused during the war. (Sign of gratitude is not needed) This is required so to refute any assertions that PRC and/or the Koreans may cast that Japan again raising ambitions for hegemony in the region that may raise tension in the region.
Second, the host nation needs to actively stress to the media that the request was made by the host nation for assistance to Japan. This is to guide and assure the Japanese public opinion that the government is not taking any proactive leads in regional security or trying to expand the military industrial complex.
Last, local coordination within the region confirming that they all welcome Japan's participation.
Without these three conditions met it would be hard for Japan to participate without nations still utilizing WW2 as a propaganda tool to attack Japan in the global media circuit and/or restrain the domestic right wing parties trying to stop any kind of action connected to the military.
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Robert says:
Jul 12, 2011
You are right.If I were the Japanese I would be working those countries(Phillipines,Indonesia,Vietnam,etc.) very hard to accept some stuff,any stuff in large enough quantities to matter.The way I understand one aspect of "diplomacy"is you work your tail off to get something over on the guys you are trying to utilize.I think it is called levers.The U.S. are absolute masters of this.Take the Phillipines for example,one can see China was trying to do this.I had read where they were offering some sort of help I don't remember what(this was before the Spratly flare-up).Anyway Japan could look at what Phillipines really needs then offer that and get them hooked.It sounds bad but that is how its done and I don't know that Japan is not doing it now but if so they are competing with the U.S. who are relentless and Japan better be aggressive if they want to matter.
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