Japanese amphibian spotted in New Delhi

[VeeraBahadur]

Japan’s ShinMaywa — not normally one to hog the limelight at international defence shows — clearly wants to make its voice heard at this year’s Defexpo. It’s not hard to see why. The Japanese firm hopes to seal a contract for an initial batch of nine US-2i amphibious aircraft to meet an Indian requirement for long-distance SAR missions. A request for information was issued to several amphibian specialists, including Beriev (Be-200) and Bombardier (CL415), back in 2010.



“The Indian requirement as it stands is for nine aircraft,” a ShinMaywa official explained at the show, “but it could ultimately lead to a larger order.” The US-2i (i for international) is a derivative of the US-2, six of which are believed to have been delivered to the Japanese Navy. A follow-on order for two machines is expected.



The Japanese firm underlines the modular nature of the aircraft, which is designed for long-range SAR, reconnaissance, economic exclusion zone surveillance and humanitarian support missions. ShinMaywa also claims that the US-2 is the only amphibian that can operate at sea states 4 or 5 (wave height around 3 metres) and points to the logistical synergies with India’s C-130Js, which are equipped with the same engines.



This high-profile appearance by a Japanese firm at a defence exhibition probably owes something to the recent easing of export rules for military equipment, though Tokyo has always emphasised that the US-2 is a dual-use aircraft that carries no weapons.

Japanese amphibian spotted in New Delhi - Air&Cosmos