Japan's US-1A Kai(s) handed over

The PLAN should consider following this step, rather than retire its fleet of cousin SH-5s.

Date Posted: 25-Mar-2004

JANE’S DEFENCE WEEKLY – MARCH 31, 2004

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Japan receives first Rolls-Royce-powered flying boat
Michael J Gething JDW Aerospace Consultant
London

The first ShinMaywa US-1A Kai flying boat was handed over to the Japanese Defence Agency (JDA) on 24 March at the ShinMaywa facility in Kobe, Japan.

The aircraft has successfully completed its company test flight programme, having first flown on 18 December 2003.

JDA test pilots will now be flying the US-1A Kai in preparation for its certification and entry into service in 2007. This first test aircraft will be joined in 2004 by a second flight test vehicle. The upgraded US-1A Kai is being developed by ShinMaywa to provide an enhanced search-and-rescue capability.

Four Rolls-Royce AE2100J turboprops drive six-bladed Dowty R414 advanced composite propellers. The US-1A Kai also has a CTS800-4K engine, produced by the Light Helicopter Turbine Engine Company (LHTEC) joint venture between Rolls-Royce and Honeywell, to drive the boundary layer control system, which provides the aircraft with a short take-off and landing capability.

Other elements of the upgrade include fly-by-wire controls from Kawasaki, a pressurised upper hull, composite wing structure and new avionics. Among the latter is the Thales/EADS OceanMaster maritime surveillance radar, ordered in 1996.

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