Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE
The Japan Defence Agency (JDA) and the Technical Research and Development Institute are considering merging air force and naval requirements for a new transport and patrol aircraft.
The solution is being studied because of Japanese budget restrictions. Other possibilities would be to delay one of the programmes by three years or more, or to reduce programme specifications.
The combined cost of the 10-year programmes is estimated at about ´400 billion ($3.3 billion), if they run simultaneously. Requests have been filed by the Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) and the Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) for fiscal year 2000 funding of a multi-purpose patrol aircraft to replace Japan's licence- built Lockheed Martin P-3C Orions and a transport aircraft, designated the C-X, to replace the JASDF's Kawasaki C-1 jet transports.
The programmes are to be included in the next five-year Mid-Term Defence Programme, due to begin in 2001, and the following five-year plan, starting in 2006. The JDA says it is considering whether to buy off-the-shelf or to develop all-new aircraft.
FY2000 funding requests are being gathered, says the JDA, but a defence budget request will be filed with the Ministry of Finance at the end of August.
Confirmation of the budget is to come next March, just before the start of the fiscal year.
Requirements have not been revealed, although it is believed that the JMSDF wants about 80 patrol aircraft, which could be turboprop or turbofan-powered. Onboard systems for the aircraft are under development, say Japanese aerospace press reports.
Source: Flight International
