Intended to complement, and in the future replace, the aging fleets of C-1 and C-130 Hercules aircraft, the Kawasaki C-2is the most advanced transport aircraft in service with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. In service since June 2016, it has consolidated its main role, while Japan’s Ministry of Defense and military authorities, taking advantage of its platform, have been advancing the development of highly specialized reconnaissance and signals jamming versions. For this reason, days ago, thanks to the viral spread of a photograph on social media, the first image of the EC-2, the new jamming variant currently under development, was obtained.
Currently, one of the most particular and distinctive platforms in service with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force is the Kawasaki EC-1 aircraft, based on the Kawasaki C-1 transport plane, in service since 1986 and operating from Iruma Air Base through the organization of the 402nd Tactical Airlift Squadron.
This has led the Ministry of Defense and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to undertake a similar approach to address its replacement, projecting a fleet of four signals jamming aircraft based on the C-2, also complementing the development of the reconnaissance variant known as the Kawasaki RC-2.
For this reason, and thanks to the photograph captured by Mel Amahashi, whose username on the social network X is “@CirqueduCiel,” what appears to be the first image of the jamming aircraft was recorded days ago. The photograph, taken during the takeoff of a Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft, allows the extensive modifications to which the selected C-2 — presumed to be aircraft number “18-1203” — has been subjected to be appreciated, characterized by the distinctive and bulging radar radome on the forward fuselage.
Prior to the photograph captured by Mel Amahashi and published on February 17, which quickly went viral on social media, only the conceptual design reflected in an image published by Japan’s defense ministry to announce the existence of the program was available.
As its designation indicates, this is a stand-off electronic warfare platform. That is, its equipment for jamming and disrupting enemy systems, such as radars, air defense systems, or intelligence collection assets, can operate outside their range, in order to guarantee the safety and operating margins of the aircraft, turning it into a high tactical and strategic value asset to achieve, or in the worst case contest, control in a disputed area of operations.
*Cover photograph: Mel Amahashi / @CirqueduCiel.
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