Thailand is interested in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force’s P-1 patrol aircraft and US-2 large amphibious rescue aircraft, according to asia.nikkei.com.
Japan wants to get between Beijing and Thailand’s military government, and the cooperation deal could serve as an effective wedge.Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani on Tuesday will meet Prawit Wongsuwan, Thailand’s deputy prime minister and defense minister, in Bangkok to discuss the defense equipment deal.
The contract, a prerequisite for exports of defense equipment from Japan, would require Thailand to get Japan’s nod before transferring or using any of the supplied equipment and related technologies for purposes other than those initially set forth.
The US-2 is an amphibious search and rescue plane operated by the MSDF. The amphibious plane is an aircraft that is characterized by its ability to function as both a plane and a ship. It can land on rough seas with waves as high as 3 meters, and has excellent short-distance takeoff and landing ability on water. It also has outstanding short-distance takeoff and landing ability on land.
The US-2 is a successor plane for the US-1A amphibious search and rescue plane. Remodeling and development of US-1A as a domestically produced aircraft began in 1996, and its first mass-produced plane was acquired at the end of 2008.
JMSDF Photo.
The Kawasaki P-1 (previously P-X, XP-1) is a Japanese maritime patrol aircraft in service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force as a replacement for the P-3C Orion. The JMSDF took delivery of the first two operational P-1 aircraft on 26 March 2013.