A new report by Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency has disclosed new acquisition numbers that the Japanese Ministry of Defense intends to procure over the decade.
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Hunini, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The number of Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft that it will acquire has reduced to 61 airframes, down from 70 it had planned earlier.
The E-2D fleet will grow to 18 aircraft, inline with the recent approved by the U.S. government to purchase five more of these early warning platforms. This may signal Japan’s desire to replace the Boeing E-767 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS). With the U.S. Air Force’s decision to retire the E-3 AWACS with the E-7A, Japan will eventually run into issues with procuring spare parts for the E-767’s radar.
Japan has also decided that it needs 15 Boeing KC-46A aerial refueling tankers, this is an additional five aircraft compared to previous estimates.
The Maritime Self-Defense Force will also take in fewer SH-60K naval helicopters. It now plans to operate only 71 helicopters over a period of 20 years. The initial plan was to have 91 helicopters and fly them for 15 years.