UK Defence Forum

Defiance wrote:https://www.c4isrnet.com/electronic-war ... abilities/

First RC-2 ELINT aircraft inducted into service, intention is to replace the 4 NAMC YS-11B currently operated by the JASDF although unsure if it will be a 1:1 replacement. Funding has also been sought for the development of a stand-off electronic warfare aircraft potentially based on the C-2 airframe

I somehow allways expected thet they will use their Kawasaki P-1 as a platform for ELINT or AWACS aircraft?

It is hard to decipher what decided the Ozzie sub contest, but definitely
" lithium battery system that ensure quiet operation and longer endurance.

The Taigei-class is the successor of the JMSDF’s Soryu-class diesel-electric submarine. "
the transition to lithium was seen as a risk; as was the fact that tech transfer from Japan to a foreign defence partner had not been proven in practice.

abc123 wrote:I somehow allways expected thet they will use their Kawasaki P-1 as a platform for ELINT or AWACS aircraft?

It probably does ELINT to a certain degree (everything does these days, and increasingly will), the C-2 is a bigger bird than the P-1 with a big handy volume to fill with people, kit and power/cooling.

Also in my mind, the P-1 was designed to sustain runs at low altitude hunting submarines so I would guess the P-1 is probably much more rugged than you need for an aircraft orbiting at higher altitude doing race tracks. You're paying a mass penalty which you don't really need for the ELINT mission.

And it's in production, I've no idea what the status is on the P-1 line

https://www.defensenews.com/industry/20 ... ghter-jet/

MELBOURNE, Australia — Japan has named Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as the prime contractor to build its next-generation fighter jet, with the Defense Ministry announcing earlier Friday that it signed a contract with the company.

“We will steadily proceed with the development of the next fighter (F-X) together with the company,” the ministry said in a brief statement posted on it website.

Local media is reporting Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said the country will select an overseas partner by the end of this year for collaboration on aircraft technology, with stealth technology being one area of focus.

The selection of MHI as the prime contractor for the F-X program comes as little surprise, given Japan was determined to restart its indigenous fighter aircraft capabilities. The company is the only one in Japan with experience in this area. The firm took the 21st spot on Defense News' most recent ranking of the top 100 defense companies in the world.

Reuters previously reported the contract for the aircraft is worth up to $40 billion. Defense News emailed the Defense Ministry’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency for an update on the contract value but did not receive a response by press time.

SW1 wrote:$40 billion

A pointer for our integrated review (of course we are not alone, footing the bill)

ArmChairCivvy wrote:

SW1 wrote:$40 billion

A pointer for our integrated review (of course we are not alone, footing the bill)

I would of thought that was a sensible ball park number for any likely program especially if we’re looking at a large aircraft.

Hope we select BAE Sytems as a prime foreign partner. Even a small portion of features from Tempest would be a game-changing advantage to secure our air superiority of East Asia.

Defiance wrote:

abc123 wrote:I somehow allways expected thet they will use their Kawasaki P-1 as a platform for ELINT or AWACS aircraft?

It probably does ELINT to a certain degree (everything does these days, and increasingly will), the C-2 is a bigger bird than the P-1 with a big handy volume to fill with people, kit and power/cooling.

Also in my mind, the P-1 was designed to sustain runs at low altitude hunting submarines so I would guess the P-1 is probably much more rugged than you need for an aircraft orbiting at higher altitude doing race tracks. You're paying a mass penalty which you don't really need for the ELINT mission.

And it's in production, I've no idea what the status is on the P-1 line

AWACS version is canceled several years ago and we got E-2D instead. And the ELINT version has planned in the 2021 defense budget and will replace JMSDF's EP-3.

RC-2 is for JASDF. Somehow JMSDF and JASDF always choose different platforms and equipment even when they do the same thing.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/3 ... gis-ashore

Japan Considers Building Two Super-Sized Destroyers As An Alternative To Aegis Ashore

I suppose they could lengthen the Maja class to add additional Mk41 VLS, to match or surpass the Chinese Type 55 and South Korean DDX III, turning the vessel into one that looks more like the USN's "Arsenal Ship" looked at in the 2000s. OR they cold remove any Aviation facilities leaving only a landing pad and use that space again for additional MK41s.

Whatever results, if built they will be capable vessels as the Japanese have shown they are damn good at designing warships.

Lord Jim wrote:OR they cold remove any Aviation facilities leaving only a landing pad and use that space again for additional MK41s.

and while we are cutting our T-45s open, we could do the same
... and then call them cruisers

Reading the DID of today, there seems to be much life left in the old bird:
" F-15 Program Manager Prat Kumar commented on the status of the F-15EX program for the US Air Force. He said that Japan would be planning to incorporate many of the EX features except the fly-by-wire system. However, it is unknown if Kumar was talking about features that Japan plans to have in new aircraft purchases or those features that will be incorporated in the F-15JSI upgrade program."

Considering the investment being made in the F-35 A/B and future F3, it is probably the latter.

ArmChairCivvy wrote:and while we are cutting our T-45s open, we could do the same
... and then call them cruisers

We would have to add a further 5" gun at the stern in "Y" position for that.

Japan Coast Guard And JMSDF Planning To Use UAVs For Ocean Surveillance

On October 29, 2020, the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) demonstrated the General Atomics' MQ-9B SeaGuardian capabilities to local media. It is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle specialized in maritime surveillance. The event took place at Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Hachinohe Air Base in Aomori Prefecture and Naval News' Japan contributor Yoshihiro Inaba was on site.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... veillance/

Dear Santa..............

Second ship in class of 30FFM frigate launched.(FFM-2 JS Kumano)

First ship has been delayed by 2021 due to small accident of MT30 gas turbine engine.

Japan is going to develop a new standoff long-range stealth ASM with 2021 defence budget till 2026. It is said that the missile will have a range of 900km(according to the Kyodo news) to 1000km(according to the Chairman of LDP's foreign affairs and security committee).

Looks like we are making our own LRASM.

Ares wrote:Looks like we are making our own LRASM.

The more, the merrier
... I thought there was already an (interim) purchase of whatever would fit that bill.

But the range of those being only a third of what is now being quoted

Japan has selected Lockheed Martin in the development of Lockheed Martin because of its experience in stealth fighters over B.A.E
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/ ... stem-82486, it might seem present Tempest technology has nothing to offer

They are playing it safe, LM as actual products to test and further develop, whereas the results of Tempest as a few years away from that state of affairs. Mind you if Tempest delivers what is promised the results will be superior to what the Japanese with end up with in their new fighter, probably.

Japan To Field New ASM-3A Long Range Supersonic Anti-Ship Missile
Extended range version of ASM-3 is being mass produced in response to China's maritime expansion.

On December 25, 2020, Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced that it would include the procurement cost of the new "ASM-3A" supersonic anti-ship missile in its defense budget request for fiscal year 2021.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... p-missile/

xav wrote: in its defense budget request for fiscal year 2021.

I always thought that the orders for foreign-made missiles were a stop gap.

No more LRASM for F-15J ?

Japan To Greatly Extend Range Of Type 12 Anti-Ship Missiles, Modify It For F-15J

On December 18, 2020, the Japanese government decided to extend the range of Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles (SSM) manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. What's more: The missile could be modified into an air-launched variant for the F-15J fighters.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... for-f-15j/

seaspear wrote:it might seem present Tempest technology has nothing to offer

Funny...As if their decision had anything to do with the technology on offer...it was ALL about the politics.