Global Hawk Watches Threats from China by Japan-US Joint Operations

Japan shares Global Hawk ISR mission data with US to counter Chinese Military Demonstration

from Sankei Shimbun 2013.12.2 08:02

Japanese and U.S. governments are working jointly to share the information gathered by RQ-4 Global Hawks operated by the two countries  assuming the Japanese Air Self-defense Force will introduce the unmanned ISR platform.

1. The two country’s air forces will share infrastructure to maintain the aircraft in Japan possibly at Misawa Air Base in northern Japan.  This is an attempt to increase air surveillance capability to Chinese aircraft and ships as they are intensifying explicit demonstrations of power over the East China Sea as shown by setting up their Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over disputed area.
2. Japanese Defense Ministry is requesting JPY 200 million for study of the aircraft in FY 2014 budget proposal and will introduce Global Hawks in fiscal 2015.
3. As China is insisting to set up another ADIZ in South China Sea as well, Washington and Tokyo have judged it is imperative to share more information in order to respond to any provocation by keeping constant watch of air/sea areas in East and South China Seas by Global Hawks.
4. Ground stations for Global Hawks call for high-level technologies for processing and analysis of huge amount of data received using the equipment are highly classified. JASDF will depend on U.S. counterpart for data processing and analysis via satellites at the start, meaning information gathered by Japan would be processed by U.S. ground stations, while, in return, Japan will ask U.S. to share information gathered by U.S. by the standard of fairness.
5. USAF will move one of three RQ-4s stationed in Andersen Air Base to Misawa Air Base  in spring time of 2014 temporarily; this particular airframe will be assigned to ISR missions in East China Sea including Senkaku Islands.

ANA Gets More New Slots at Haneda Next Year

   

Dispute over Who Gets More International Flight Slots at Expanded Haneda:

Gov’t Decision in Favor of ANA

All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, Tokyo Haneda Int’l Airport   

October 2, 2013, various sources

Sankei Shimbun reported today as follows: For allocation of newly available slots for international flights at Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport, which is due to complete a new expansion project by the end of March, 2014, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) is allegedly giving more slots to ANA than JAL.

Newly available are designated for international arrival/departure slots during ‘daytime’ i.e. 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the gateway to Tokyo city center and MILT is going to allocate a total of 16 slots to Japanese carriers. These slots are supposed to be used for European trunk lines as well as shorter routes for Asian destinations including China and Indonesia. Allegedly ANA will be given around 10 slots at the final stage of coordination by MILT.

International slots are known for high profitability and it is said a daytime slot can generate annual revenues of about 10 billion yen (100 million U.S. dollars).  ANA has been claiming that the airliner deserves to receive more slots than Japan Airlines that was rescued by public funding from its bankruptcy. and the gap of corporate performance was artificially widened between the two carriers  JAL reacted to this ANA’s request by saying ‘a fair competition calls for an equal distribution of the slots.’

MLIT, on the other hand, has judged that ‘awarding of an official support should not distort a competitive environment into an inappropriate manner’ and will permit ANA to get two slots for German destinations and one slot for Canadian destination to ANA.. Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported ANA will receive 11 slots and JAL will get 5 slots

ANA Looks Myanmar Market by Acquiring Local Airline

   

   

from Yomiuri Shimbun, August 27,2013   

            

ANA Holdings, a parent company of All Nippon Airways www.ana.co.jp has decided to buy 49% of equity of a new carrier in Myanmar, called Asian Wings Airways (www.asianwingsair.com).

ANA aims at to capture rapidly-growing passenger traffic in the South East Asian market. This would be the first case of foreign investment to Myanmar’s civil aviation after shifting of administrative authority from the military.

ANA’s equity is estimated JPY3 billion (USD 30 million) and would be paid up until the end of March 2014. Asian Wings, located in Yangon, the largest city of Myanmar, flies to major cities in the country. It was founded in 2011 and plans to fly international routes soon.

Reflecting strong business interest of Japan to Myanmar these days, ANA launched Narita-Yangon flights in last October; it will expand its capacity by changing to larger aircraft while increasing frequency from three flights every week to daily.  With this capital equity acquisition, ANA will be able to use the domestic network of Asian Wings for transfer passengers from Japan.

       

A New AWACS Squadron in Okinawa Will Beef up Air Defense in Controvertial Waters

More Eyes to Alert Intruders to Senkaku Islands  with  New Airborne Early Warning Squadron in Okinawa; Ministry of Defense

from MSN Sankei News August 22 ,2013

Credit: Japan Air Self-Defense Force

Ministry of Defense seemingly decided  to create a new early warning squadron consisting of E-2C AWACS at Naha Air Base as the ministry will submit its budget plans to procure equipments in fiscal 2014 budget plans. As more cases of Chinese aircraft approaching to the Japanese territorial airspace over the East China Sea has been observed, the Ministry seemingly has decided to reinforce air early warning and monitoring capabilities.

E-2Cs, however, are getting obsolete after three decades have passed since the introduction, the Ministry will study its successor in fiscal 2015 budget. As for another asset of AWACS, E-767 will be installed with upgraded systems.  

 A total of 13 E-2Cs are stationed in Misawa Air Base while E-767 AWACS is operated from Hamamatsu Air Base.

 Since Senkaku Islands were declared as national property in last September, a sudden jump in frequency of Chinese fighter planes or ISR assets are being found to approach the Japanese airspace over East China Sea.  For instance, Air Self-Defense Force fighters doubled its scrambling cases to approaching Chinese aircraft since previous year, counting 306 this year  in total a record high.

Air Self-Defense Force employs both E-2C and E-767 AWACS since last September in Okinawa seas; AWACS flew from Hamamatsu but E-2C’s range made necessary to station at Naha and so far four examples are being operated from the Okinawa base. Normally it would be around 20 sorties annually but the number reached to close to 250 since last September to March.

 However, infrastructure for maintenance of E-2C at Naha Air Base is poor and it has been wanted for prompt improvement of its support functions. With the creation of new flight squadron, almost half of E-2C fleet will fly from Naha.

The new unit would increase early warning capabilities of Japanese air force in its southwest corner of territory and would be taken as a warning to China.

777 CLOSEST FOR NEXT GOV’T AIRCRAFT SELECTION

   

Compiled From Yomiuri Shimbun reporting on July 19, 2013

The government of Japan is planning to retire two Boeing 747-400 government’s own aircraft in fiscal 2018 and replace them by two new aircraft in the following year.

The newspaper has learned from pleural government sources in July 18 that it would request a part of budget to acquire in advance for fiscal 2014, assuming a choice of Boeing 777 having a similar transportation capacity with 747 but superior in fuel efficiency.

Current pair of Govt aircraft was introduced in 1991 and are being operated by Japan Air Self Defense Force while its maintenance, repair and overhaul as well as crew training are entrusted to Japan Airlines. The aircraft has been used in state visits by the Imperial family as well as Prime Ministers; they are also deployed to emergency flights such as transportation of rescued expatriates and bodies of the victims in Algerian assault incident in last January.

Internal study of the next aircraft within the government was prompted by JAL’s retirement of all its 747 fleet  by 2010 as JAL looked 747s were inferior in fuel consumption rate.

The decision making has been postponed as new aircraft acquisition may provoke negative reactions from taxpayers as the government is readying to raise tax rate and ask them to burden higher. However, as JAL’s support would end in fiscal 2018 and procurement of new aircraft calls for a certain lead time, the government finally decided to place order within the next fiscal year.

Estimated cost of the acquisition is JPY 100 billion (USD 1 billion) for two examples including special conversion works.

Notes

1. All of ANA’s 747 fleet will be retired by March 2014, leaving NCA cargo airline the only operator of 747 in Japan.

2. Once 787 was rumored to be a candidate, so were MRJ Mitsubishi Regional Jets. However, as for the latter, its range is too short and it would rather be a sign of commitment by the government to support the indigenous airliner development.

3. Japanese aerospace industry  has been participating in 777 from development stage to current production  accounting  for 21% of the works of 777.

Training Base for MV-22 Ospreys at Osaka?

Many Obstacles Ahead to Materialize Hashimoto’s Proposal to US Marine Corps

5 June 2013

from various reports,

Following an abrupt statement by Tooru Hashimoto, controversial Mayor of Osaka, to welcome to accept U.S. Marine Corps vertical transport aircraft MV-22 Ospreys to a general aviation airport called Yao in Osaka for a part of flight training missions, Tokyo moves to study comprehensively its feasibility. Hashimoto’s plans immediately invited an opposition from the mayor of Yao City to accept military missions to its civil airport. Accordingly the central government would study the plans carefully as it has three-fold drawbacks in refuelling, hangers and flight/training environments.

Mr. Hashimoto will meet Yoshihide Suga, Chief Cabinet Secretary to make his proposal officially on June 6.

Marine Corps’ MV-22 Ospreys are stationed in Futenma Air Station where there is virtually no gap between dense housing area and local citizens claim Ospreys are symbolizing too much concentration of US military installations in small Okinawa prefecture. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima of Okinawa in last February to tell the governor that the governement wished to work hard to relocate Osprey drills to outside of Okinawa as much as possible.

Even though relocation of US bases outside Okinawa has been a poetical promise over the years, there has been no local governments to accept installations within their premises fearing troubles and protesting citizens.

Yao, a suburb of Osaka, has a commuter and helicopter airport of small scale but the airport is being surrounded by housing complex and obstructing buildings at all directions.

A Defense Ministry official said that Osprey’s refuelling, since this SVTOL aircraft uses different fuel than light aircraft or helicopters, calls for new facilities that will cost billions in Japanese yen. He also points out there is no extra space in the tiny airport to house a new hanger to accommodate Ospreys. How about Yao from a view point of its suitability as training environment? If Yao turns out to be unsuitable for training missions, the effect to reduce heavy concentration  of US military presence in Okinawa  would be limited.

Marine Corps is reportedly seeking flight training plans at more areas in homeland Japan by securing refuelling and transit points as many as possible. In the west, Marine Corps has its Iwakuni Air Station and it maybe wants to prioritize a station in eastern side.  Yao, Osaka is in western part and closer to Iwakuni.

  Yao is in Osaka Prefecture

Yao Airport (RJOY): 70ha, 09/27 1,490m x 45m, 13/31 1,200m x 30m

India to Acquire Flying Boat from Japan

Complied from reporting by Sankei Shimbun, 24 March 2013

*

US-2, Rescue Flying Boat by Shin-Maywa, Operated by Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force

　

Tokyo has started necessary procedures to export US-2, amphibious rescue flying boat operated by Maritime Self-Defence Force, to India that had expressed intention to buy the aircraft for its rescue operations as well as anti-piracy countermeasure. Its manufacturer opened a local office in India to negotiate with the Indian government. With its export, per unit produciton cost would be lowered as production increases, reluting in lower procurement cost of Japan.

US-2, when taken off special armor and IFF, cannot be classified as weapon system but its export was regarded as a ‘taboo’ as the aircraft is exclusively designed for operations by the Self-Defence Force. However, by the relaxation of the three principles regarding arms export practice by the government of Japan where even conventionally classified as weapon can be now allowed to export as long as it compiles with peace creation or international cooperation. Accordingly, the government is now allowing exporting of some of its defense systems for promotion of its home defense industry as well as lowering of defense cost.

Shin Maywa Ind., its manufacturer, is obliged to apply for civilian convertion of the aircraft and already requested to disclose technical specificaitons and data under copyright of the Defense Ministry that accepted the request.

Indian government has indicated an intention to purchase US-2 to Japan since three years ago. At joint naval exercise at Sagami bay in last June, officials of Indian navy witnessed high performance of US-2 and brought back with positive impression of the flying boat..

Indian government is planning to deploy US-2 to both rescue and anti-piracy operations. Enhanced saftey of navigation in Indian Ocean would mean a more stability of sea lane of communication (SLOC) from middle east to Japan.

According to a Japanese official, countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei are also showing interest in purchase of US-2.  When such ASEAN nations as well as India share the same aircraft with shared technical knowledge and operation maneuvers, ‘it would play a diversionary force againt China who is trying spread its force in the seas at the region,’ said the governement official.

US-2 is rescue flying boat and it is the only type that can land on rough sea water with waves as high as three meters. Operaitonal range: 4,700 Km, Cruising speed: 480 Km

New Maritime Patrol Aircraft to be Deployed at Atsugi Base in March

from various souces

Japan’s Defense Ministry announced on March 12 to local authorities around Atsugi Base of Maritime Self Defense Force (Kanagawa Pref.)  that the ministry would station new jet-powered patrol aircraft P-1 within the month of March as its development had been completed.  Amid the tension at the seas around Japan getting arising, the ministry decided the new aircraft is most suitable as a sign of more alert as P-1 is exceeding conventional patrol plance, P-3C, in terms of speed and range.

P-1 is all domestc developed aircraft to succeed P-3C; the ministry told first two examples would be deployed at the base in March, then to be incresed to a total of 12 by the end of fiscal 2016 and finally 20 for more intensified watch and patrol at the southwest sea territory and other areas.

Development  of P-1 had started since 2001 but it was delayed for about one year for cracks found in its wings and fuselage. Kawasaki Heavy Industries is mafucturing the aircraft with unit price of JPY20 billion or around $200 million.

Maritime Self Defense Force would employ the first aircraft for operational test flight at first.

Powered by four XF7-10 turbofan by IHI, P-1 is medium-class aircraft and the defense ministry would procure a total of 70 plus aircraft to replace aging 80 P-3C fleet. JMSDF justifies the smaller number of the new P-1 fleet as it could fly and reach the target area faster.

Its flight control has adopted flight by light (FBL) system consisting of fiber optics to avoid interference to on-board sensors and other electronics. Practically the very first case of use FBL, the aircraft gets lighter weight of wiring and smaller power consumption while flying.

The aircraft was developed concurrently with XC-2 medium-sized two-engine military airlift  by the same contractor, sharing 75 % of airborne systems by unit, saving JPY 25 billion.

Specifications

Crew: 2 pilots and 11 operators

Length: 124 ft

Height: 39 ft

Wingspan: 114 ft

Take-off weight: 80 t

Powerplant: F7-IHI-10 turbofan, 13,500 lb x4

Performance

Max speed:    538 kt

Cruise speed:    450 kt

Range:         4,320 nmi

Armament

Air-to-Ship missile, torpedos, anti-sub bombs for a total of over

20,000 lb

New Intelligence Satellite Launched Today

 

New Radar Information Gathering Satellite Launched by H2A #22

January 27, 2013

JAXA, Japan's space exploration authority, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries successfully launched H2A rocket #22 for the Japanese government from the Tanegashima Space Center, Kagoshima at 1:40pm today. The rocket's payload includes the fourth radar equipped information gathering satellite as well as demonstrator of new optical system. The payload was seperated from launcher as scheduled and successfully put into orbit.

The radar satellite is believed to be able to find about 1 meter object on the ground day and night and through clouds. The optical demonstrator is designed to test a new photographic system with higher resolution than the optical satellites #3 and #4 now in orbit, with ability to identify 40 centimeter object.

This new radar satellite will join the three optical reconnaissance satellites and one radar satellite already in orbit, completing the original plan to watch a specific place on the ground at least once a day, night and day.

According to the Intelligence Satellite Operations Center, a division of　the Cabinet Office, the fourth radar satellite called for a total development cost of JPY24.3 billion (about USD270 million) while the optical demonstrator satellite was developed with JPY11.8 billion (USD130 million); launching cost of H2A is JPY10.9billion (USD121 million).

Japan's information gathering satellites have been put into orbit after the ballistic missile launch by North Korea in late 1990s. The government of Japan has not released all relevant data of the satellites including their orbit paths and performance as well as collected graphic data.

H2A launcher, with today's launching, could achieve successful rate of 95.5%, surpassing an international yardstick of 95% as reliable launching system.

JAL's Boeing 787 Leaked Fuel Again

2013/1/13 21:11 KYODO                    
   
       
               

A Japan Airlines’ Boeing 787, while maintenance at Narita International Air;port,  had a failure to leak about 100 liters of its fuel. The incident took place around 1:40 pm on January 13 local time. According to JAL, the aircraft is the one that showed fuel leakage at Boston Logan International Airport on January 8 and while removing remaining fuel in the left wing, JAL saw unexpected leak from jettison fuel nozzle of the left wing.       
           
The nozzle was most probably opened itself while maintenance work was performed; there was no display of warning that was supposed to be activated when the nozzle starts to work.   
           
The fuel leak in Boston was caused by extra amount of fuel flowing to a fuel tank in the left wing as a unclosed valve that connect two fuel tanks of middle section of the fuselage and the left wing. The fuel leaked from another discharge section. Japan Airlines started its check up assuming a trouble of fuel supply system at both cases.■