A TOTAL of eight Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft have now been delivered to the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF), the most recent example having entered service by mid-November. The total comprises two XP-1 development prototypes and six production aircraft.
KHI had handed over the first two production P-1s to the JMSDF at Gifu on March 26, 2013. Along with the four subsequent production aircraft, they are now at Atsugi with the 51st Kokutai (Air Squadron), which is the JMSDF’s test and trials unit.
The first operational unit with the P-1 will be the 3rd Kokutai at Atsugi, which is scheduled to receive its first aircraft before the end of this year. The JMSDF eventually plans to acquire around 70 P-1s to replace its P-3C Orion fleet. Alan Warnes