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Straits Times
30-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
‘Engine corrosion' grounds large numbers of Japan's home-grown P-1 patrol aircraft
Japan's P-1 patrol aircraft has encountered issues such as engine corrosion and intelligence-gathering equipment failures, the Board of Audit has found. PHOTO: JAPAN MARITIME SELF-DEFENCE FORCE – Japan's P-1 patrol aircraft, a proud symbol of domestic innovation as its first home-grown maritime reconnaissance plane, is 'woefully underused' due to engine corrosion and intelligence-gathering equipment failures, the country's Board of Audit has found. In a searing 38-page report on June 27, auditors highlighted a litany of defects that could have been prevented during the aircraft's development. It also blamed delays in securing replacement parts on a lack of proper judgment. The Defence Ministry said it took the findings seriously. 'Many P-1 aircraft were not in a state where all equipment were functioning properly and could be used for missions without restrictions,' the report said. 'Yet, the P-1 plays an important role in securing Japan's national interests, with flight patrols over territorial waters, and smooth passage of vessels through its sea lanes.' The revelation exposes a potential chink in Japan's maritime surveillance armour as China escalates its activities in the high seas sometimes close to Japan's outlying islands. It also underscores the challenges that Japan faces in its efforts to fire up its national defence industry, which has atrophied due to low profitability during a half-century of weapons export ban that has gradually been eased since 2014. The auditors launched an ad hoc probe into the P-1 since a 'large amount of national funds has been invested in its development'. The audit also came after the 2023 Defence White Paper cited the P-1 as an example of a military unit that has been crippled by a lack of parts. Japan spent 1.78 trillion yen (S$15.7 billion) on the research, development, procurement, maintenance and repair of the P-1 from 1991 to 2023, the audit board said. The P-1 has been globally recognised for its submarine detection prowess, and holds the distinction as the world's first aircraft with a fly-by-optics system. This transmits control signals from the cockpit via optical fibres instead of electrical wiring, making planes lighter. Japan decided to make its own patrol aircraft as a successor to its P-3C Orion aircraft made by America's Lockheed Martin. Kawasaki Heavy Industries is manufacturing the P-1, using F7-10 turbofan engines from IHI Corporation. The P-1 was first deployed in 2013, and the Maritime Self-Defence Force (MSDF) now commands a fleet of 35 P-1 aircraft, and plans to add another 26 aircraft by 2054, for a total cost of 4.09 trillion yen. The P-3C, in use since 1983, is gradually being phased out. The MSDF had 32 P-3C aircraft in operation as at March 2024, down from a peak of 98. The fleet of 35 P-1 aircraft, whose maximum speed of 830kmh makes the aircraft 1.3 times faster than the P-3C, is strategically stationed at three MSDF bases: Kanoya in Kagoshima in south-western Japan, as well as at Atsugi and Shimosa to the south and east of Tokyo respectively. The P-1 is equipped with, among other things, sonar and electromagnetic radars to detect submarines. The audit report described the operational status of the P-1 from 2019 to 2023 as 'subdued', without specifying the number of aircraft that were being grounded and the types of intelligence equipment that glitched, given that this could 'jeopardise national security'. Professor Heng Yee Kuang of The University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Public Policy told The Straits Times: 'The Kawasaki P-1 is one of the 'crown jewels' of Japan's kokusanka policy to build self-reliance in its domestic defence industry by utilising path-breaking technologies.' He added that the report spotlights the dilemma facing Japan's defence planners: how to balance wear and tear on its limited assets and manpower against the need to maintain persistent and continuous surveillance of Chinese and Russian maritime activities. 'This is a reminder that military operations remain critically dependent on logistical nuts-and-bolts issues, which are often unglamorous,' he said. Maritime patrol planes fly for prolonged periods at low altitudes over the high seas to monitor foreign submarines and suspicious ships. But the P-1 was vulnerable to salt content in the air that led to engine corrosion, thus 'rendering a certain percentage of engines permanently unusable', the report found. While the problem was discovered during the development phase, based on test standards used by the US military, these test conditions were changed under the pretext that the 'expected operations are different'. When the same problem was found during operations, IHI brushed it away as an 'accidental occurrence' – an explanation that the ministry accepted. A proposed fix for the engines to be thoroughly scrubbed down with pure water after each flight was not carried out as it was 'too onerous' on servicemen. As for malfunctions of electronic equipment, this could have been prevented with more rigorous stress-testing during development, the report said. The MSDF Air Supply Depot was also too overoptimistic over the procurement of replacement parts, the report added, noting that only 30 per cent of spare parts could be delivered within a year of a request being made. The chronic shortage, blamed on a global semiconductor shortage and supply chain issues, has meant that 'cannibalistic maintenance' was necessary by replacing parts of one P-1 unit with those from other P-1 aircraft . Still, experts noted that many modern military aircraft such as the F-35 stealth fighter jets have been plagued with teething problems, which makes the P-1's woes not extraordinary in the broader context. 'It is important that Japan grows its military self-reliance especially to prepare for a crisis – until now, there has been no motivation to grow its defence production lines because Japan's Self-Defence Forces were the only customer,' said non-resident fellow Satoru Nagao of the Hudson Institute, a US think-tank. 'But given Japan's lack of field experience after World War II, it suffers from many blind spots,' he added. Yet, to make the industry viable through export, it will be important for Japan to win customers among like-minded militaries abroad. Prof Heng said given that Japan has been trying to sell the P-1 to the Italian Navy, the bad press came at an inopportune moment. 'The Defence Ministry will have to demonstrate its ability to iron out these maintenance problems to convince would-be buyers,' he said. Walter Sim is Japan correspondent at The Straits Times. Based in Tokyo, he writes about political, economic and socio-cultural issues. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yomiuri Shimbun
28-06-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Board of Audit of Japan Warns Many MSDF P-1 Patrol Planes Inoperable; Parts Shortages, Device Defects Among Causes
Some Maritime Self-Defense Force P-1 patrol planes are not operational, according to a Board of Audit of Japan report released Friday. P-1 patrol planes are for detecting submarines and surveilling suspicious ships in the seas around Japan. The Board of Audit said that frequent engine trouble and shortages of parts for repairs are among the causes of the planes' underutilization. The report stated that 'a limited number of planes are mission ready' and demanded the Defense Ministry improve the situation. Thirty-five P-1 planes had been procured as of fiscal 2023 at a total cost of about ¥1.78 trillion. The government plans to procure another 26 units before fiscal 2054, when P-1 planes are set to cease operations. In compiling the report, the Board of Audit checked the operational conditions of P-1 planes between fiscal 2019 and 2023 and concluded that they had been underutilized because of three factors: deterioration of engine performance; defects in electronic information-gathering devices; and a chronic shortage of replacement parts. The report stated that, in many cases, the engine deterioration and electronic device defects were caused by material erosion due to long flights over the sea. There were many cases in which such planes became unusable. Additionally, the low utilization rate was found to be caused by delays in procuring parts due to rapid changes in the global landscape and a worldwide semiconductor shortage. As a result, some P-1 planes have had to undergo 'cannibalistic maintenance' — in which parts of one P-1 plane are replaced with parts from others. Such units are utilized only in stopgap operations. The Board of Audit did not disclose numerical data of the operations, names of defective devices and other details, as disclosing them could reveal the MSDF's capability to deal with contingencies. Speaking to reporters, a Defense Ministry official said, 'We are taking the pointed-out facts seriously and will continue making efforts to maximize the operational levels [of P-1 patrol planes].'
28-06-2025
- Politics
Japanese P-1 Patrol Aircraft Underused: Board of Audit
News from Japan Society Jun 28, 2025 13:17 (JST) Tokyo, June 28 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's P-1 aircraft, the first domestic patrol aircraft, is underused mainly due to engine corrosion and problems with electronic devices, the government's Board of Audit has said. Reporting the outcome of its probe into the matter Friday, the board called for making the maximum use of knowledge gained from past malfunctions and conducting appropriate tests to improve the performance of the aircraft. The board stopped short of disclosing details of the low operational status, such as the number of aircraft active at present, citing national security concerns. The importance of monitoring submarines and military vessels in waters around Japan is increasing, especially after the recent close encounter incidents between Japanese patrol and Chinese military aircraft On June 7, a fighter jet based on a Chinese aircraft carrier made a dangerously close approach to an MSDF P-3C patrol aircraft monitoring the ship in the Pacific Ocean. A similar incident happened the next day. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
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Nikkei Asia
27-06-2025
- Business
- Nikkei Asia
Japan's maritime patrol planes hampered by equipment problems: report
Defense Parts shortage also keeps P-1 reconnaissance fleet from operating at capacity The Kawasaki P-1 patrol plane entered service in 2013. The fleet has grown to 35 units. (Photo by Konosuke Urata) RIKA KIMURA and SHINNOSUKE NAGATOMI TOKYO -- Chronic equipment problems and a parts shortage prevent a fleet of Japanese patrol aircraft from operating at optimum capacity, a report released Friday by an independent national agency shows. The P-1 produced by Kawasaki Heavy Industries entered service in 2013, and 35 units were stationed across three bases as of September 2024. The aircraft can operate for long hours to monitor foreign warships and submarines in Japan's surrounding waters.
Hindustan Times
13-06-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Trump's DC birthday parade could be canceled amid ‘No Kings' protest
Thunderstorms are threatening President Donald Trump's big birthday celebration this weekend in Washington, D.C., where he's planning a $45 million military parade to mark both his 79th birthday and the Army's 250th anniversary. Notably, on the same they, protest groups opposed to Trump's policies are planning 'No Kings' demonstrations in hundreds of cities across the country. It seems like a natural calamity is now a bigger hurdle for the POTUS than the protest. 'As we head into the evening hours, we do have to be concerned about at least thunderstorms in the area. If there is a thunderstorm obviously not only lightning would be a concern, but also, with all the humidity in the air, it can certainly have some downpours with it,' a meteorologist from AccuWeather told The Independent. ALSO READ| Donald Trump sees possible 'Massive Conflict' between Israel and Iran The parade is set to take place Saturday evening from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, but organisers are keeping a close eye on the weather. Forecasts predict temperatures in the mid-80s, though humidity will make it feel several degrees hotter. 'Rain won't stop us, the tanks don't melt, but if there's lightning then that puts the crowd at risk,' Steve Warren, chief spokesman for the Army, told The Times. He added that officials 'will disperse the crowd and even cancel or postpone the parade' if lightning becomes a concern. 'It will depend on the president, too, when he's available,' Warren added. General Randy George, the Army's Chief of Staff, will reportedly have the final say on whether the show can go on. 'It's June in Washington DC. We get thunderstorms. You could delay it, you could look at it and say this is just passing through. Or say, hey, this is a storm which gets bigger for a while,' Warren said. Notably, the parade will showcase around 6,600 Army personnel, vintage warplanes like a WWII-era B-25 bomber and a P-1 fighter, as well as iconic Huey helicopters from the Vietnam War era. Heavy military gear will also be on display, including 25 M1 Abrams tanks, 28 Stryker armored vehicles, and four Paladin self-propelled artillery vehicles. ALSO READ| What is 'No Kings' protest? Movement planned against Trump during Army's 250th anniversary parade However, amid several criticism that the parade is 'not a good use of government funds,' unfazed Trump said during a May interview on Meet the Press, 'We have the greatest missiles in the world. We have the greatest submarines in the world. We have the greatest army tanks in the world. We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we're going to celebrate it,' He dismissed the cost, saying it was 'peanuts compared to the value of doing it.'
