1. In Feb 2021, the 1st Boeing KC-46 tanker destined for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) took its maiden flight. Japan is the KC-46 program’s first international customer and is scheduled to receive its first jet in 2021. While the aircraft is built in Everett, USA, Boeing’s Japanese partners produce 16% of the KC-46 airframe structure. Japan is now on contract for a total of four KC-46 tankers and has also in Nov 2020, started taking delivery of the V-22 Osprey (which can also serve as a tanker for its future F-35Bs).
This is still a conceptual computer-generated image of a modified Kawasaki C-2, but it looks very, very.......EW.
The Japan Ministry of Defense’s (MoD’s) Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) has awarded Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) a JPY15 billion (USD143.1 million)...
www.janes.com
2. Due to available cooling and power, these modified Kawasaki C-2s look like more powerful standoff jammers than USAF’s EC-37Bs (based on IAI’s CAEW mold-line) that are scheduled to achieve IOC in 2023. The C-2 performs enhanced cruising range, flying speed and payload compared to C-1 with the state-of-the-art technologies, such as Tactical Flight Control system, Auto-Airdrop system, Self-Protection capability and Air-to-Air Refueling capability. Performance tests and evaluation were completed in March 2017.
(a) Unlike USAF’s EC-37Bs (used as ‘defensive’ jammers behind the US Navy’s Growlers), the main role of these modified Kawasaki C-2s would not be jamming. Rather it is to gather SIGINT/ELINT data on PLA radar emissions (from PLAAF AWACS and PLA(N) special missions aircraft); vectoring F-22As and F-35As/F-35Bs to kill these flying radar beacons.
(b) According to sources in Japan, JASDF also operates the RC-2 in an ELINT role (that replaces the YS-11EBs) in the Denshi Hiko Sokuteitai (Electronic Intelligence Squadron).
(c) In a soccer analogy, the various types of JASDF’s modified C-2s are like fullbacks with a central defensive role, while still covering the wings and forcing enemy EW attackers wide and away from goal of jamming Japanese AWACS (which is like a goal keeper, to be protected at all costs). IMO, the Japanese always have a hidden special requirement that other allied air forces, like the RAAF, don’t plan for (which is to also kill Korea’s Boeing 737 AEW&Cs, if the need arise).
3. The Australians have also acquired four modified G550s (with a canoe below the belly) – designated the MC-55A Peregrine – for the RAAF under Project AIR 555. The capabilities suggested by existing platforms such as the E-7 Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft can be significantly enhanced if it can network with off-board sensors provided by the G550 in an ISR role. So the acquisition of the G550 platform is significant, as is the prospective sensor suite aboard those aircraft, but just as important will be ensuring the ability to establish full and secure connectivity across the spectrum of Australian capabilities and at all levels from strategic to tactical.
(a) These types of G550 special missions aircraft, as a flying ISR sensor compliment the EW capability of US Navy and RAAF Growlers; and add to SIGINT/ELINT gathering capabilities of Australian P-8As to gather information on enemy electronic order of battle and also collaterally support strike packages.
(b) Apart from the US, operators of special missions G550 aircraft include
the Japanese Coast Guard (4); the Israeli Air Force (which operates the two types of G550 aircraft in an ISR ‘Special Electronic Mission Aircraft’ role as well as CAEW role); Singapore, which operates 4 of the CAEW variant; and Germany which operates a G550 to undertake high altitude atmospheric research, with Italy also an operator of the CAEW variant and the Italian Air Force has funded development of a new JAMMS variant (aka Joint Airborne Multi-sensor Multi-mission System) to be brought into service in 2022.
4. While the
USAF’s EC-37Bs are used in a more defensive manner for electronic attack after their IOC in 2023, the Israeli CAEW and Italian JAMMS are intended to perform a strike leader role for certain types of strike missions; which explains the need for programmable chaff & flares countermeasures, as part of customer requirements. In addition,
the Italian Defense Policy program for the JAMMS:
(a) will be structured in two or more tranches — as part of the Italian Defense Policy Document for 2020-2022. The first one, worth 1.2B Euro, covers the acquisition of the first two JAMMS G550 and six “green” airframes that can be converted at a later stage to either JAMMS or CAEW configurations, together with logistic and infrastructural support;
(b) is meant to fulfil both the C4ISTAR and CAEW requirements. According to some analysts, the decision to get six non-equipped aircraft could be due to the G550 going out of production in 2021 (when the final aircraft is delivered). Italy has already received 2 CAEWs from IAI; the Italian program will eventually be for 4 more JMMS and 4 CAEWs are set to start in 2021. All 10 of these modified Gulfstreams will be based at
Pratica di Mare Airbase, near Rome; and
(c) whose designation is still unknown (supposedly E-550B or R-550), will be in charge of the actualization of the Italian national intelligence database, characterization of tactic intelligence targets, search for new targets of interest, survey of the operational environment of deployed forces, targeting process support, airborne early warning and electromagnetic surveillance and protection.
