Japan Unveils Electronic Warfare Aircraft Based on Kawasaki P-1

In a significant move to enhance its military capabilities, Japan is accelerating the development of an electronic warfare (EW) variant of its Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) has allocated $292.1 million for this project, aimed at replacing the aging EP-3 Orion signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft currently in service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

Currently, the JMSDF operates five EP-3 aircraft, while the U.S. Navy has largely retired its fleet. The new EW aircraft, as suggested by an image released by the MoD, is based on the Kawasaki P-1, which serves as the primary maritime patrol aircraft for the JMSDF, with a total of 33 aircraft in service and an additional 27 planned for future deployment.

The image indicates the integration of various antennas onto the P-1, although specific details regarding the capabilities of the electronic warfare systems remain undisclosed. The initiative to develop advanced EW capabilities is part of a broader trend in Japan’s defense strategy, which has seen a push towards indigenously developed military equipment, particularly in response to rising tensions with China.

Public discussions regarding the P-1’s electronic warfare version have been ongoing, with the MoD previously sharing an image in March 2024 that provided a glimpse of the aircraft’s anticipated design.

This development aligns with Japan’s broader defense modernization efforts, which also include the creation of hypersonic boost-glide weapons, the introduction of long-range anti-ship missiles featuring stealth technology to replace the Type 12, and the mass construction of Mogami-class frigates.

The Kawasaki P-1 was specifically designed to succeed the aging P-3C Orion in maritime patrol missions. Consequently, the introduction of an electronic warfare variant seems a natural evolution, reinforcing Japan’s commitment to bolstering its defense capabilities in an increasingly complex security environment.