ANDREW DOYLE / SINGAPORE
Both nations are due to replace their P-3C Orion fleets and are keen to collaborate
Japan and the USA have agreed the terms of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under which the two nations will discuss the joint development of a next-generation mission system for maritime patrol aircraft (MPA).
The MoU is due to be signed by the end of this month - about three months later than originally planned - and defines the scope of formal talks which are expected to start in April, say industry sources in Japan.
"This has taken longer than we thought because of questions about the wording of the MoU," says a government official involved in the discussions. "The MoU outlines the scope and breadth of what we are going to talk about."
The USA and Japan have concurrent requirements to replace their large fleets of Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion MPAs and want to collaborate on the new mission system despite opting for different platforms (Flight International, 4-10 September 2001).
The Japan Defence Agency chose Kawasaki to lead development of the indigenous, four-engined P-X MPA in November, along with the C-X twin-jet transport with which it will share limited commonality.
The US Navy's Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA), meanwhile, will use an off-the-shelf airframe such as the Boeing 737-800 or an updated P-3. Using a common mission system will ensure a high degree of interoperability between Japanese and US forces.
The sources say the US Navy and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) are "highly motivated" to reach an agreement on the joint mission system. Issues to be resolved include the specification of the system and its capabilities, the scope of any joint development work, timescales and export potential.
Sources acknowledge there are some differences in the requirements, because of the JMSDF's need to focus principally on littoral areas around Japan while the USA needs a more flexible system for use in a range of theatres around the globe.
Source: Flight International
