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The Japanese Kawasaki P-1 packs advanced avionics and cutting-edge technology
Entered service 2013
Crew 13 men
Dimensions and weight
Length 38 m
Wing span 35.4 m
Height 12.1 m
Weight (empty) 38.1 t
Weight (maximum take off) 79.7 t
Engines and performance
Engines 4 x IHI F7 turbofan
Traction 4 x 60 kN
Maximum speed 996 km/h
Cruising speed 833 km/h
Service ceiling 13.5 km
Range ?
Ferry range 8 000 km
Combat radius 2 500 km
Armament
Torpedoes MK-46, Type 97 and G-RX5 torpedoes
Missiles AGM-84 Harpoon, ASM-1C, AGM-65 Maverick
Other over 100 sonobuoys, mines, depth charges
The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has been using the Lockheed P-3 Orionfor decades as their main maritime patrol aircraft. It operated nearly 100 American-built P-3C maritime patrol aircraft. Another 110 P-3J were license-produced by Kawasaki. However, this type of aircraft became outdated.
The Kawasaki P-1 was designed as a replacement for the P-3 Orion. It made its first flight in 2009 and demonstrated impressive performance. This aircraft was adopted in the JMSDF in 2013. It replaces the ageing fleet of Orions. To this date, there are 33 Kawasaki P-1 aircraft in service and around 60 more are on order. The British Royal Air Force seems to be interested in purchasing a few dozen of Kawasaki P-1 aircraft to replace their retired Nimrods.
The Kawasaki P-1 was designed to perform the same missions as most maritime patrol aircraft. It is capable of conducting long-range surveillance and reconnaissance over land and sea, anti-shipping, submarine attack, collect intelligence data and perform search and rescue. It is broadly equivalent to the US Boeing P-8 Poseidon.
This maritime patrol aircraft is powered by four turbofans, developed specially for Kawasaki by the Japanese IHI Corporation. Each engine generates a thrush of 60 kN.
The aircraft has a lot of room for the armament. There are 8 hardpoints for missiles and 8 internal bomb bay stations.
Still, the thing that puts Kawasaki P-1 ahead of the competition is its avionics. The cutting-edge technology was used to equip this aircraft, from Toshiba radar system to Shinko Electric combat system, specialized for anti-submarine warfare.
This aircraft is equipped with an advanced artificial intelligence system. This system makes job of the tactical coordinator officer easier, which has a direct impact on the overall performance of the aircraft.
Unlike a majority of similar aircraft, Kawasaki P-1 is not using the regular fly-by-wire technology, but the fly-by-light system. Actually, the P-1 is the first ever production aircraft to be using this kind of flight control system.
The cost of a single Kawasaki P-1 aircraft is between $140.8 million and $167 million. It is worth noting that the Lockheed P-3 Orion costs approximately $36 million.
Kawasaki P-1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft | Military-Today.com
