ShinMaywa Industries plans to deliver its second US-1A Kai search-and-rescue amphibian to the Japan Defence Agency (JDA) next month.
The first prototype aircraft flew at the end of last year and has been undergoing test flights by the JDA's Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI) at Iwakuni since March. ShinMaywa says the second aircraft first flew on 30 June and is scheduled to join the TRDI's test-flight programme by the end of November; about three months later than originally scheduled.
The JDA plans to acquire the first production US-1A Kai, which features several performance improvements over the original US-1A, in fiscal year 2005 for delivery in 2007. The first two prototypes will be converted into production aircraft and put into service from 2008.
ShinMaywa has also launched a marketing campaign for a potential civilian firefighting and passenger transport version of the amphibian. However, the company first needs the JDA to lift its ban on export sales of military aircraft.
BRENDAN SOBIE / SINGAPORE
Source: Flight International
