The four-engine Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft, which has been in service with the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force since 2013, is making the trip to Le Bourget for the first time.
The Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft will be one of three Japanese newcomers at this year’s Paris Air Show (19th – 23rd June), the other two being the MRJ90 regional jet and the HondaJet bizjet.
The P-1, which is powered by four indigenous IHI F7-10 turbofans, entered service with the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force in 2013 but this will be the first time it has been seen at Le Bourget.
Unlike many maritime patrol platforms, the Japanese design is not a derivative of a commercial transport. It was purpose-built to replace the country’s existing fleet of Lockheed P-3 Orions. Around 30 aircraft are currently in service — about half of the planned total.
Among notable features, it is the first production aircraft equipped with fiber optics (“fly by light”) flight controls for reduced electromagnetic interference. Primary systems include a Toshiba HPS-106 AESA radar with 360° coverage, infrared/light detection systems for surface detection and a CAE magnetic anomaly detector mounted in the tail, along with sonobuoys.
The aircraft is equipped with a bomb bay and eight external hardpoints on the wings.