Japan is moving forward with the development of an electronic warfare (EW) version of its domestically produced Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft.
According to media reports, the Japanese Ministry of Defense has already requested that 41.4 billion yen (US$292.1 million approximately) of the 2025 budget be allocated to this project. This figure would amount to about half the projected cost of the program, as detailed in documents published by the Japanese government.
The P-1 is becoming the mainstay of Japan’s maritime patrol capabilities, as it replaces the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ageing EP-3 fleet. This version of the US-made P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft, is, at the moment, Japan’s main platform for electronic warfare missions.
The interest in developing further uses for Japan’s P-1 aircraft takes place as its manufacturer, Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), is starting to consider the development of a new aircraft type that could take over the maritime patrol role from the decade of 2040 onwards.
The P-1’s electronic warfare version has already been object of public discussion for quite some time, to the point that, in March 2024, Japan’s Ministry of Defense already shared an image of social media which anticipates the future look of such aircraft.