Chinese Warships Made Around-Japan Cruise

compiled from Yomiuri Shimbun, 28 December 2014

Japan’s Ministry of Defense announced today that four ships belonging to Chinese Navy cruised from the Tsushima Strait to the East China Sea.

None of these ships violated the territorial sea of Japan. These ships went to the Pacific Ocean by passing the Osumi Strait down south of Kyushu on December 4, then went into the Soya Strait in the north on December 25, circling around Japan and the Ministry has been watching the movement of the ships.

Joint Staff of the Ministry confirmed that four ships consisting of destroyers, frigate and supply ship passed through the Tsushima Strait after completing replenishment exercise in the Pacific Ocean.  Previously, Chinese navy did navigate around Japan in July 2013 for the first time.

Japan is carefully examining the implications of these Chinese naval movements.

E-2C Goes to South: from Misawa to Naha to counter with Chinese threats

compiled from report by the Sankei Shimbun, 25 November 2014 and others

Air Self-Defense Force's E-2C

In last April, a ‘moving’ took place from Misawa Airbase , Aomori to Naha Base, Okinawa of Air Self Defense Force (ASDF).  Four E-2Cs airborne early warning  originally stationed in Misawa flew to Naha to inaugurate the 603rd early-warning squadron.

The new 603rd squadron could not be born without the China.

On December 13, 2012, a Chinese Y-12 turboprop belonging to Chinese National Oceanic Administration violated the Japanese air space nearby Senkaku Islands. However, ASDF’s ground-based radars could not detect this small utility aircraft. It was after being told by a patrol craft of Japan Coast Guard when ASDF launched  F-15s and E-2C for intercepting. It was a big shame for the officials of Japanese air force that they could not tolerate.

Some E-2Cs were stationed at Naha on rotation basis as Tokyo previously declared ‘nationalization’ of the islands in September of that year but the case called for a need to beef up air defense in the south.  E-767 AWACS were sent from Hamamatsu, central Japan to Okinawa for air space watch and surveillance.

Before and after 2012, the frequency of air scrambling was greatly changed: what it used to be around 20 cases in a year was increased to around 250 in 2012 alone. Tension around southwest of Japan has been constantly running higher by such incidents as more Chinese flights in the area, sometimes too close flying to Japanese military aircraft as well as Beijing’s announcement to impose Air Defense Identification Zone that covers the islands. Then, the 603rd was born with 4 E-2Cs.

E-2C is called airborne radar site as it can detect and track many bogies and send locations of them to ground stations and flying friendly aircraft. Also, it can be airborne faster than E-767 AWACS.

It was 1983 when ASDF took delivery of E-2C; it was after another disturbing event happened to Air Force.  That event was when a MiG-25 landed forcibly on Hakodate Airport as the pilot, Viktor Belenko attempted defection to the west. ASDF chased the aircraft but missed before it landed as ground based radars were not able to detect a low flying beyond the horizon. Then it was decided to acquire E-2C to fill in the gap of this radar detection.

During the previous cold war days, E-2Cs were stationed in the north to watch for Russians and now they are in Okinawa to watch the southern sky indicating a change of threats to Japan today.

Japan recently decided to purchase E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to replace E-2C.

Mitsubishi Wants to Get Hal of Global Market for Regional Jets:

MRJ Rolls Out: Mitsubishi is bullish to capture a half of global regional jets market

Compiled from TOYO KEIZAI On-line, October 19, 2014

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries rolled out MRJ at its Komaki South Plant on October 18. The aircraft, first unit for flight test, is the newest regional jet in market and Mitsubishi intends to start the first delivery in 2017 by starting flight testing by the second quarter of 2015.

MRJ is being developed by Mitsubishi Aircraft, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy, as regional jet  for 70 to 90-seat class. The aircraft is the second indigenous passenger aircraft after YS-11, a turboprop smaller civilian passenger aircraft which flew in 1962.

MHI formally started MRJ development in 2008 but it faced three times of delay and managed to complete the first unit for flight test.

Here is an excerpt of interview by TOYO KEIZAI online of Teruaki Kawai, President of Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation on MRJ’s development processes and marketing.

You managed to complete the first MRJ for flight testing at last.

It was six years ago when MHI decided to develop the aircraft by launching Mitsubishi Aircraft. We came a long way to show the aircraft to public from nothing. However, only half of the development work is complete now; we will face the real challenge soon.

The next turning point will be flight testing scheduled sometime in the second quarter of the next year.

Development so far has been conducted on the ground, or it has been a kind of simulation. Some factors can be confirmed on the ground but after all nobody knows the real stuff until it flies. By results of flight test, we may change some of the design or its systems.

Time schedule of MRJ so far was delayed three times. You have outlined target of the first delivery at the first half of 2017. Can you realize this schedule?　

I believe it can be realized. We must keep the schedule by any means. Repeated delays have caused a lot of inconvenience to our customers including launch customer ANA. We are not allowed to delay the schedule further as our customers are anxious to fly our product for their own business.

Development of a new passenger aircraft calls for national certification after verifying its safety based on a vast amount of data.One of causes for repeated delay was that you have been stuck at that work.

Certification is the hardest challenge in new aircraft development. We had little know-how and experience in proving the safety and we are having a hard time, yes.  Then we signed a contract with a foreign consulting firm which has many clients at passenger aircraft development and the firm are giving us a lot of advice.

So far the order for MRJ is 223 for confirmed order and 407 including booking. How do you view this ?

Mitsubishi is a newcomer in passenger aircraft business. In spite of this, it is fair to say this level of order before flight test is a good success. This year, we have reached agreement with Japan Airlines in August and we got formal order from Eastern Air Lines.

We think it is very significant for us to see JAL’s decision. Now as the two major airlines in Japan have endorsed our product, MRJ would take more attention in overseas market.

For regional jets below 100 seats, Embraer and Bombardier are major players while Russian Sukhoi and Chinese COMAC are developing new aircraft respectively.

Frankly, I don’t believe Russian and Chinese are major competitors. Bombardier is shifting to larger airframe of over 100 seats and its new CSeries doesn’t compete MRJ in the same market. For smaller regional jets below 100 seats will probably become an arena of one-on-one battle between Embraer and Mitsubishi.

That Embraer has announced a new aircraft E2 series with the same engine for MRJ last year and it already adding new order steadily.　

It would be Embraer’s counterplan for MRJ. E2 is based on existing airframe changing wings and engines; it would be superior than existing models but cannot be free from restrictions based on the current design.

On the other hand, MRJ is a clean sheet design to fully utilize Pratt & Whitney's newest engine.  E2 may close the gap but MRJ still keeps its advantage in fuel efficiency and others.

What Embraer has and Mitsubishi has not is proven results as passenger aircraft assembler. Some airlines may say skeptically, ‘Can Mitsubishi guys really do it as they say about advantages of MRJ?’

To wipe out such anxiety, MRJ’s development must go forward very steadily. When we start flight test, we will be able to convince them more with actual data of fuel efficiency.

How many aircraft do you foresee to sell or how about market share goal?

We forecast around 5,000 new aircraft demand of regional jets below 100 seats in coming 20 years. At present, U.S. and Europe are major marketplaces but we anticipate Asia and Latin America will have more demands. We aim at capture a half of global demands by ourselves, at least in spirit.

You have other kind of challenges such as setting up of series production in addition to airframe development.

Exactly. We need a lot of preparatory works in passenger jet business.

To name a few, we need to build customer support system in addition to full production flows as well as finance menu for our customers. MHI as a group will manage all these preparations.■

Volcano Erupts and Air Traffic Affected in Central Japan

Ontakesan Volcano Erupts Affecting Aviation in Central Japan

Ontakesan　before and after: June 2014, left and September 27.

Ontakasan volcano erupted at 11:53 Japan Standard Time, September 27. Located at borders of Nagano and Gifu prefectures, the mountain, 3,067 meters or 10,060 ft. has been inactive for the first time since the last eruption in 1979.

Some of domestic and international flights planned to fly over nearby airspace in central part of Honshu island has been diverted including Jetstar flights from Australia to Narita Tokyo which landed on Kansai International Airport.

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways have altered flight routes respetively causing some delay in specific flights.

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism issued a NOTAM in Sunday afternoon calling for attention to aircraft to fly nearby the mounting as volcano smoke might be ascending to altitude as high as 8,000 meters (26,000 ft.). Pilots who flew closer to the volcano reported they had seen smoke rising to 4,500 meters (14,760 ft.)

Ontakesan is located closer to flight routes between Tokyo Haneda airport and Hokuriku region, as well as Chubu International Airport and Hokkaido/Tohoku regions. As some flights had to divert their normal routes, they flew longer for 30 minutes or so on that day.

As of Monday morning, authorities were trying to rescue those left mountain climbers by helicopters and other means. At least four people were found dead, 16 others were critical. The mountain is a popular climbing spot and there were over 200 people were believed to be there over the last weekend. Effective immediately after the eruption, meteorological authority issued an alert and asked no one to approach the spot.

JAL Selects MRJ for Local Domestic Routes

First MRJ under final assembly in June 2014. (PHOTO  Mitsubishi Aircraft)

NIKKEI web-edition reported on August 28 that Japan Airlines has chosen MRJ, regional jets under development by Mitsubishi Aircraft.  

JAL will introduce MRJ to its domestic destinations from 2021 by replacing aging feeder fleet.  Fuel efficient, MRJ is expected to lower fuel bills for JAL while bringing with more flexibility to adjust flexibility of operations by seasonal change, thus reinvigorating JAL’s local network that once shrunk during the carrier’s corporate rehabilitation processes.

JAL will introduce 32 MRJs, billed about JPY 150 billion (USD 1.4 billion) by catalog price. The fleet will be based at Osaka Itami Airport for operations by its subsidiary J-Air that currently flying both Bombardier and Embraer small aircraft.

MRJ, either 70- or 90-seat,  will  become commercially available in 2017 according to Mitsubishi Aircraft. Applying with more composite materials and GTF engines, MRJ has a target of fuel consumption lower by 10 to 20 percent than today’s counterparts.

ANA, the launch customer of MRJ, has ordered 25 previously.

Mitsubishi Aircraft received order for 375  MRJs including options. Adding 32 more from JAL, Mitsubishi will mark over 400 orders that is said to be break-even point for MRJ development and production. Further, expectations of cost reduction by volume production may accelerate its marketing in overseas markets. ■

AirAsia Wants Skymark?

AirAsia Seeks Control of Skymark

2014/8/19 2:00

Nikkei on August 19 reported that AirAsia, the largest low cost carrier (LCC) in Asia is now studying to support struggling Skymark, Japan’s third largest carrier, hoping to acquire management control through its equity.

Skymark, now in business slump by competing a bunch of other emerging LCCs, has enough slots at Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport and flights from/to Haneda are dubbed cash-cow routes.

Skymark’s destinations from Haneda effective late-October 2014:

• Sapporo
• Fukuoka
• Naha
• Kagoshima
• Kobe
• Ishigaki

Skymark had ordered six Airbus A380s to launch international services but the carrier failed to pay for the aircraft and finally Airbus terminated the contract that may lead to cancellation fees as close as USD700 million

AirAsia with its fleet of over 150 Airbus products, is a major customer of AIrbus and has started to sound the European aircraft maker if it is possible to reduce the amount of penalty to Skymark.

Japanese civil aviation regulations stipulate that a  non-Japanese carrier cannot hold over one third of voting right; AirAsia may acquire Skymark’s capital through its own subsidiary  registered in Japan.

Shinichi Nishikubo, Skymark’s CEO and president, said ‘Skymark is still looking for its survival by itself.’  He holds about 30% of Skymark stocks.

However, if the real control of Skymark would be shifted to non-Japanese ownership, it would be unclear whether Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism would approve the same slots at Haneda for a new company.■

Skymark on August 19 denied the Nikkei reporting and stated that the company was never contacted by AirAsia.

Boeing 777. Japan's Next State Aircraft

Boeing 777-300ER Selected as Next State Aircraft, ANA Wins Service Contract

August 13, 2014

from various news sources

The government of Japan has chosen Boeing 777-300ER for the next government aircraft to be introduced from fiscal 2019 while changing government aircraft maintenance contractor to ANA from conventional JAL. An order of two Boeing large aircraft would be given by Tokyo. It was announced on August 12.

Selection of ANA is reportedly for its lower contract money and the government will award the service contract to All Nippon Airways for as long as 20 years.

Ministry of Defense allocated relevant budget of JPY 135 billion (approx. USD1.3 billion)  for the new aircraft to which JAL and ANA brought up with their proposals respectively. ANA finally won the race with JPY123 billion for a couple of aircraft, modifications, crew training as well as operations and service maintenance for twenty years from 2019.

A pair of Boeing 747-400, current official aircraft have been operational since 1993 and Japan Airlines has been the official maintenance service contractor. However, passenger 747s have been all retired at both ANA and JAL and it was said JAL would not be able to provide maintenance service for 747s after March, 2019.

777-300ER has a length of 73.9 meters with smaller cabin than 747s but better fuel efficiency of 30 percent and extended range of 14,000 kilometers, an addition of about 1,000 Km. Operations of new 777-300ERs would be based at Chitose Air Base, Hokkaido by Air Self-Defense Force as same as current fleet of 747s.

ANA Holdings issued its statement to announce its win of the state aircraft contracts saying ‘...very honorable for a Japanese carrier.’  Though the detailed terms and conditions are to be discussed later, ANA would get about JPY 2 billion from these contracts every year; it would be an attractive and stable revenue for carriers as their revenues  are susceptible to business cycle.

A Myanmar Carrier Buys 10 MRJs

An artist’s concept of Mitsubishi MRJ (Photo Mitsubishi Aircraft)

Air Mandalay, a Myanmar carrier, will acquire Mitsubishi MRJ regional jets, with an order  ten in total. This will become the first case of MRJ order out of Japanese and US carriers, and is expected to develop a momentum in sales of the aircraft in Asia where air traffic demand is growing.

Air Mandalay is a domestic carrier in Myanmar and expanding its operations thanks to more leisure travellers are heading for the country. The carrier chose MRJ for its advanced design.  Among the order of ten aircraft, four would be option.

Mitsubishi Aircraft had announced Eastern Air Lines  Group  Ltd. would order 40 MRJs on 14 July, the total order of the aircraft reaching to 365. Mitsubishi plans to fly MRJ in spring time in 2015 for the first time.

C-2 Development Delayed and Cost More

New Transport C-2 : Two More Years For Deployment As Lack of Fuselage Strength Found  

Compiled from Jiji Press 4 July and otter sources

Ministry of Defense decided to put off deployment of the new transport, originally set at the 1st quarter of 2015, for two more years later. A C-2  test aircraft failed to sustain its fuselage during pressurizing test when its cargo door came off. The ministry said on July 4 that the accident was caused by a laas stateck of strength at aft frames and the pressure concentrated on that weak portion causing its breaking off of the test aircraft. As the specifications of that part has been changed for production aircraft, this case does not call for redesign but as retesting is needed accordinng to the ministry.　

The ministry also stated that it was critically serious case and cannot help but seeing its impact on the deployment. Retesting and other processes are estimated to cost about 40 billion yen (USD 400 million )additional budget. Total cost of C-2, then, will be expanded to JPY 260 billion.

It was learned on July 5 that the Defense Ministry had requested assistance of a professor at the University of Tokyo for investigation of the true causes but the university rejected as this request was judged against the U of T principle that prohibits any ‘military work’ by the university. Defense Ministry is asking Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology that supervises all universities in Japan but Education Ministry is not expecting the university to accept defense request for autonomy of a university principle. However, the professor joined an analytical team at the Defense Ministry in his private capacity, raising a question of the effectiveness of the university’s principles.

Two XC-2s in Flight Formation

Credit: Tech. Research & Development Institute, Ministry of Defense

Too Close for Discomfort, Chinese Did It Again

from various sources

by the editor

JUNE 12, 2014

One of Su-27s  that approached too close to JSDF aircraft on June 11. (Defense Ministry)

Japan’s Defense Ministry announced that a pair of Su-27 fighters approached  at abnormally close distance in air  to

Self Defense Force ISR aircraft over East China Sea at 11a.m. and noon JST respectively. Two Japanese aircraft were OP-3C imagery information gathering of Maritime SDF and YS-11EB electronic information gathering mission of Air SDF and both aircraft were approached by Chinese fighters as close as a 30 meters. Both Chinese aircraft did not violate Japanese airspace and did not cause any damage to SDF aircraft and crew.

Minister of Defense Itsunori Onodera publicly announced the incident in the evening of the same day, saying the government conveyed its message of protest to Beijing through diplomatic channel. Onodera also mentioned that  this Chinese behavior was very dangerous as it might have caused an accident. He also said that the Chinese should show more discipline.

This incident is the second attempt by Chinese since the May 24 event. As it was scheduled to convene Japan-Australia diplomatic-defense consultation in the evening of the same day, some Japanese government source showed a view that Chinese had tried its move against Tokyo.

According to Defense Ministry, the incident occurred at airspace 300 km north of Senkaku Islands, Okinawa where Air Defense Identification Zones of Japan and China overlap and close to the intermediate line between the two countries.

The two SDF planes allegedly were in surveillance mission to monitor military activities of Chinese forces. The Chinese fighters, carrying air-to-air missiles, did not try to warn by radio.

In May 29, China claimed that a Chinese air force plane had been chased by Japanese military aircraft at as close as 10 meters in November 2013. Defense Minister Onodera immediately responded to this claim saying there was no such a fact.

China is seemingly trying to make their self-imposed ADIZ as an accomplished fact by repeating scrambles.■

★New Engine for Future Fighter Development in Progress

Ground Test of Engine for Advanced Fighter Underway

June 4, 2014

compiled from press release of Technical Research and Development Institute as well as other reporting

National Institute for Defense Studies, a division of Technical Research  and Development Institute, the Ministry of Defense is conducting functional test of XF5-1 a demonstration engine for forthcoming advanced technological demonstrator-X (ATD-X). The engine weighs 644 Kg  or 1,420 lb with thrust power of about 5 tons (11,200 lb).

As the first indigenous low-bypass turbofan engine with afterburner, XF5-1 achieves world’s top class in weight-thrust ratio.

The proving test is being conducted in Sapporo, Hokkaido, by simulating various air flow situations at altitudes and speeds to confirm constant and transient performances as well as restart in air.

The tests are to achieve first flight of ATD-X; its development will be completed in 2016 with flight testing by Air Self Defense Force.

XF5-1 mounted on high altitude performance test bed

(Photo: Technical Research  and Development Institute, Ministry of Defense)

XF5-1’s afterburner in work

(Photo: Technical Research  and Development Institute, Ministry of Defense)

Chinese Fighters Flew Too Close to Japan Self Defense Force Aircraft on East China Sea

Chinese Fighter Aircraft Scrambled to Japan’s Self Defense Force Aircraft over East China Sea

compiled from Kyodo, Asahi Shimbun and NHK reporting

25 May 2014 by the editor

Su-27 fighter photographed by Ministry of Defense on May 24

Japan’s Defense Ministry announced two aircraft of its Defense Forces flying over East China Sea were approached by Chinese fighter aircraft up to tens of meters. The Ministry said the site of this unusual encounter took place at overlapping areas of Air Defense Identification Zones installed by Tokyo and Beijing respectively and .the Japanese aircraft did not violate Chinese airspace.

The Ministry said two Su-27 armed with white, or live, missiles approached to Maritime Self-Defense Force OP-3C, imagery information gathering aircraft around 1100hrs local  and to Air Self Defense Force YS-11EB, electronic reconnaissance plane at around 1200 hrs on May 24. One of the Chinese fighters flew as close as  50 meters to OP-3C and 30 meters to YS-11EB.

Defense  Minister Itsunori Onodera issued a comment that it was a dangerous act of flying by Chinese aircraft that might have led to an accidental trouble. Onodera also said the crew of Japanese planes could see live missiles under the wings of the Chinese fighters and feel ‘a certain tension’ to continue their flights. Tokyo has protested to Beijing through its diplomatic mission in Japan.

The two Japanese aircraft were flying to monitor an on-going naval exercise between Chinese and Russian navies.

Su-27s came from behind two Japanese aircraft respectively. Japanese Defense Ministry revealed that the Chinese did not transmit any radio warning.

In the mean time, the Chinese Defense Department said on May 25 that the Japanese military aircraft were trying to ‘monitor and interrupt’ Sino-Russo joint naval exercise and China dispatched its aircraft for identification  and preventive measures as the Japanese aircraft had entered in Air Defence Identification Zone.■

777 Likely As The Next Govt Planes

Government Likely to Pick Boeing 777 as the Next Official Aircraft, Weighing Japan-US Alliance More

Monday April 21,2014 from Sankei Shimbun

Sankei Shimbun reported that the government of Japan is the final stage of procedures to introduce Boeing 777 as the replacement of Boeing 747 fleet for the next government official aircraft. The new aircraft will be delivered in fiscal 2019. Tokyo intends to show its commitment for stronger alliance with Washington by rejecting other choices including larger aircraft by Airbus.

Since last year, relevant government branches including the Cabinet Secretariat, Defense Ministry and Air Self Defence Force were studying the selection and reached to a final selection based on flight range, fuel efficiency, safety and overall flight records. The report says it will be coming summer when the Tokyo government will announce the introduction formally.

Boeing’s other aircraft, 787, was not selected as the aircraft cannot provide with needed space for PM’s working office and the attendants. Airbus A350 will be able to fly nonstop to the eastern coast of US but 777 was selected as made in US product as a symbol of Japan-US alliance.

The report does not tell how many aircraft will be introduced but the government has appropriated a budget of JPY 135.5 billion (about USD 1.3 billion) as expenses for introduction of the next government aircraft for fiscal 2014 budget.■

Japan Watches Rise of Russian Air Operations Around its Homeland

Joint Staff Office of the Ministry of Defense has issued a series of press releases dealing with flights of Russian aircraft near Japanese airspace in this month, showing more active operations of Russian ISR.

April 16: Russian Il-20 electronic reconnaissance aircraft flying on the Sea of Japan. (Joint Staff Office of the Ministry of Defense picture)

April 16---A couple of Russian IL-20 electronic reconnaissance aircraft flew the Sea of Japan and Pacific Ocean routes separately and Japan responded by scrambling of its Air Self Defense Force fighters. One of them reached closer to the Kanto region where Tokyo and central functions of Japan’s political and economical activities are concentrated flying southern course from the northern territory. Another example flew between Takeshima and Oki Islands at the Sea of Japan side to the Korean peninsula and then changed its course to the north.

April 15----A total of six Russian  aircraft were detected flying around Japanese homeland.

April 14---Four Russian aircraft flew around Japan.

April 13---A Russian Il-20 entered Japan’s Air Defense Identification Zone and responded by scrambling of Air Self Defense Force’s interceptors. Defense Ministry said the aircraft flew on the Sea of Japan and headed for north from the west of Hokkaido island.

April 7---Two Tu-142 patrol aircraft were found flying on the Sea of Japan and Japan launched its fighters.

April 5--- Two Il-38 maritime patrol aircraft were detected and Air Self Defense Force scrambled its fighter jets.

The Defense Ministry is closely watching Russian air operations as its air force has intensified its operations after North Korea launched intermediate ballistic missiles on 26 March.

April 7: Tu-142 patrol aircraft flying on the Sea of Japan. (Joint Staff Office, the Ministry of Defense)

April 5: Russian Il-38 found over the Sea of Japan. (Joint Staff Office of the Ministry of Defense picture)