Japanese MoD's Fiscal Year 2025 plans include a new electronic warfare aircraft based on the indigenously developed Kawasaki P-1.
The MoD has requested $292.1 million for the new electronic warfare aircraft to replace its ageing EP-3 Orion SIGINT aircraft. JMSDF currently operates five EP-3 aircraft, while the U.S. Navy has retired most of its aircraft.
The new aircraft, judging from the image released by the MoD, is based on Kawasaki P-1. Kawasaki P-1 serves as the main maritime patrol aircraft of the JMSDF, with 33 aircraft in service and 27 more entering the service.
The integration of various antennas can be seen from the image, but there is no information on what areas of electronic warfare the capabilities will cover.
Japan's preference for indigenously developed defence equipment has become more dominant in the past few years due to the philosophical change to up-arm itself against China. Similar efforts include the development of a hypersonic boost-glide weapon, a long-range anti-ship missile with stealth features to succeed Type 12, and the mass construction of Mogami-class frigates.
