Weeks after one of the draft versions of the National Defense Authorization Act was published, specialized U.S. media highlighted that the Pentagon was outlining a pilot program that would allow it to lease amphibious aircraft operated by contractors, which would then support the deployment of U.S. Armed Forces in the Pacific. Now that this initiative has been enacted into law, Washington continues to keep secret which platform would be selected, although the measure appears aimed at matching the logistical capabilities of Japan and China, both of which operate this type of aircraft in their inventories.
Expanding on some relevant details, the text in question grants authority to the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy to move forward with a program that would make amphibious aircraft available to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, whose commander would be responsible for deploying them according to the needs of his forces. It is also explicitly stated that the aforementioned program will run for three years from the promulgation of the law, although no further details have been provided regarding how many aircraft would be incorporated. Secrecy seems to be one of the defining characteristics of this decision, as in response to inquiries from outlets such as The Warzone, neither the Pentagon nor INDOPACOM offered additional clarification.
In the absence of certainty, it is worth noting that the idea of acquiring an amphibious aircraft has long circulated in the United States, including a failed attempt to develop a variant of the C-130 aircraft equipped with floats in order to close this capability gap and supply it to U.S. Special Operations Command. These platforms are seen as a key asset that would facilitate access to virtually any area of the Indo-Pacific, especially for logistical transport and search and rescue (SAR) missions that could become urgent in the event of war. After unfulfilled promises of an imminent test flight, the program was ultimately canceled in 2024, effectively eliminating the possibility of fielding a domestic fleet.
As mentioned earlier, the fact that China and Japan possess such capabilities is far from insignificant, as they are two of the most important geopolitical actors in the region where the United States seeks to strengthen its presence. In China’s case, it should be recalled that AVIC began initial production of the new AG600 amphibious aircraft in 2024, just two years after the first tests of a variant intended for firefighting missions. At the time, reports also indicated that the platform would be incorporated to meet requirements related to supplying remote islands, as well as search and rescue missions.
In the case of Japan, a close U.S. ally in the region, attention should be drawn to its small fleet of ShinMaywa US-2 aircraft. As with the previous example, these platforms are designed to facilitate operations in the Pacific, particularly given that Japanese territory includes numerous islands far from the capital and difficult to access for certain types of aircraft without suitable airfields, while deploying a ship for such missions requires significantly more time.
Regardless of the clear relevance these platforms would have in the Indo-Pacific, the program launched by the Pentagon is not without criticism, particularly regarding which type of aircraft might ultimately be selected. One of the main candidates cited is the Japanese ShinMaywa US-2 itself, although critics question whether it is available in sufficient numbers to meet U.S. requirements, leaving open the possibility that additional aircraft would need to be manufactured. Other potential options, according to local analysts, include the CL-415 Super Scooper firefighting aircraft and the Cessna Caravan, although both are considered to offer more limited capabilities.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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