×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Small Arms Warships & Submarines Military Ranks Military Pay Chart (2024) Special Forces
HOME
AVIATION INDEX
MODERN AIR FORCES
AIRCRAFT BY COUNTRY
AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS
COMPARE AIRCRAFT
AIRCRAFT BY CONFLICT
AIRCRAFT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT BY DECADE
MODERN AIRCRAFT
Aviation / Aerospace

Kawasaki C-2


Tactical Military Transport Aircraft [ 2017 ]



With a first-flight in 2010, setbacks have delayed the service entry of the promising Kawasaki C-2 military transport.



Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 10/07/2020 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]
With the need to modernize into an independent fighting force (apart from reliance on the United States) and keep in step with developments emerging from China, the Japanese military is eyeing success with its in-development Kawasaki "C-2" series twin-engine transport. The aircraft was born from a Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) requirement calling for a new, high-wing transport to replace its stock of propeller-driven 1950s-era Lockheed C-130 "Hercules" models and 1970s'era Kawasaki "C-1" jet-powered transport line. Reviewing several possible foreign-originated replacements ultimately left authorities with the decision to go the indigenous route and the C-X program was begun headed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

Development begat the intended product with its modern swept-back high-wings, deep fuselage, and traditional "T-style" tail unit. The flight deck sits behind a blunt nose cone assembly while the tubular fuselage is of a stout, wide design. The multi-wheeled main undercarriage legs sit under bulges in the lower regions of the fuselage with the wing mainplanes seated at the top of the aircraft. Each wing contains an underslung engine nacelle as well as a network of flaps and other required surface controls. The empennage is characterized by the high-mounted horizontal planes emerging from the sole vertical tail fin. A powered cargo bay door is seated at the base of the tail section for access to the hold when loading/unloading goods. The typical crew arrangement is to feature three made up of two pilots and a loadmaster. The hold is cleared to carry infantry (including paratroopers), special missions equipment, up to eight cargo pallets, or a Sikorsky UH-60J (or similar) medium-lift helicopter. Empty weight is listed at 134,000lb with a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) nearing 265,000lb.

The high-wing approach grants the C-2 the strong lifting properties required for short-field operations, listed as one of the JASDF original requirements. The service plans to procure up to thirty of the aircraft to help add a tactically-flexible aircraft to its modernizing arsenal.

The aircraft was originally recognized under the "C-X" designation before being changed to the "XC-2". Production forms will take on the plain C-2 designation under the Kawasaki brand label. The C-2 has been developed alongside another Kawasaki product - the "P-X" for the Japanese navy - to help better manage program costs and development phases. This aircraft is intended as a maritime patrol platform for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and was introduced in 2013 while seeing at least thirteen airframes built to date (2014). The XC-2 itself has entered its flight testing phase, having recorded a first flight back on January 26th, 2010, though developmental/budgetary issues have pushed back its official service introduction - perhaps coming as soon as 2015 or slightly later.

With power derived from 2 x General Electric CF6-80C2K1F series turbofan engines outputting at 59,740lbf each, the C-2 will sport cruising speeds of around 550 miles per hour, a ferry range of 6,215 miles, and a service ceiling up to 40,000 feet. A commercial passenger-moving/cargo-hauling version is also being planned by Kawasaki for the civilian market.©MilitaryFactory.com
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.

June 2016 - The first C-2 aircraft was delivered marking the end of some 15 years of development. It was subsequently declared ready-for-service by the Japanese Ministry of Defense.

March 2017 - The Kawasaki C-2 formally began service with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.

November 2017 - The C-2 was showcased at the Dubai Air Show to potential global customers looking to replace aging model lines such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules.

December 2018 - The Kawasaki C-2 is a viable contender for a five-strong fleet requirement by the New Zealand Air Force. These would be used to succeed an aging fleet of C-130 cargo haulers.

January 2019 - The Japan Ministry of Defense has earmarked funds for five upcoming fiscal years to procure up to five Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) C-2 transports.

January 2019 - Current operating squadrons of the C-2 include the Air Development and Test Wing and the 403rd Tactical Airlift Squadron of the 3rd Tactical Airlift Wing.

January 2019 - The Japan Ministry of Defense has revealed plans to develop a standoff "jamming" variant of its C-2 transport for service set to begin in or around 2025.

June 2019 - The C-2 was showcased at Paris Air Show 2019 for the first time. Seven aircraft have been completed to date. Some sixty are under order from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.

March 2020 - In an attempt to broaden the product's tactical flexibility, the C-2 is being evaluated by Japan for rough-field performance.

October 2020 - The Japan Air Self-Defence Force has taken into service its first example of the RC-2 ELectronic INTelligence (ELINT) variant of the C-2 tactical airlifter.

Specifications



Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) - Japan
Manufacturer(s)
Japan
Operators National flag of modern Japan
2017
Service Year
Japan
National Origin
Active
Project Status
3
Crew
11
Units


SPECIAL-MISSION: AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING
Specially-equipped platform providing over-battlefield Command and Control (C2) capability for allied aerial elements.
SPECIAL-MISSION: ELETRONIC WARFARE
Equipped to actively deny adversaries the ElectroMagnetic (EM) spectrum and protect said spectrum for allied forces.
TRANSPORT
General transport functionality to move supplies/cargo or personnel (including wounded and VIP) over range.
COMMERCIAL AVIATION
Used in roles serving the commercial aviation market, ferrying both passengers and goods over range.


144.0 ft
(43.90 meters)
Length
145.7 ft
(44.40 meters)
Width/Span
46.6 ft
(14.20 meters)
Height
134,041 lb
(60,800 kilograms)
Empty Weight
311,734 lb
(141,400 kilograms)
Maximum Take-Off Weight
+177,693 lb
(+80,600 kg)
Weight Difference


2 x General Electric CF6-80C2K1F turbofan engines developing 59,740 lb of thrust each.
Propulsion
631 mph
(1,015 kph | 548 knots)
Max Speed
40,026 ft
(12,200 m | 8 miles)
Ceiling
6,214 miles
(10,000 km | 5,400 nm)
Range


MACH Regime (Sonic)
Sub
Trans
Super
Hyper
HiHyper
ReEntry
RANGES (MPH) Subsonic: <614mph | Transonic: 614-921 | Supersonic: 921-3836 | Hypersonic: 3836-7673 | Hi-Hypersonic: 7673-19180 | Reentry: >19030


None.


C-2 - Base Series Designation; initial production models; 30 intended for procurement by the JASDF.
C-X - Original developmental designator
XC-2 - Revised developmental designator
C-2 (Commercial) - Planned civilian-market passenger/cargo mover.
RC-2 - Reconnaissance platform with modifications undertaken to suit ELINT role. Built atop the framework of the second prototype.


Military lapel ribbon for Operation Allied Force
Military lapel ribbon for the Arab-Israeli War
Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of Britain
Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of Midway
Military lapel ribbon for the Berlin Airlift
Military lapel ribbon for the Chaco War
Military lapel ribbon for the Cold War
Military lapel ribbon for the Cuban Missile Crisis
Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the Falklands War
Military lapel ribbon for the French-Indochina War
Military lapel ribbon for the Golden Age of Flight
Military lapel ribbon for the 1991 Gulf War
Military lapel ribbon for the Indo-Pak Wars
Military lapel ribbon for the Iran-Iraq War
Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War
Military lapel ribbon for the 1982 Lebanon War
Military lapel ribbon for the Malayan Emergency
Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the attack on Pearl Harbor
Military lapel ribbon for the Six Day War
Military lapel ribbon for the Soviet-Afghan War
Military lapel ribbon for the Spanish Civil War
Military lapel ribbon for Special Forces
Military lapel ribbon for the Suez Crisis
Military lapel ribbon for the Ukranian-Russian War
Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War
Military lapel ribbon for Warsaw Pact of the Cold War-era
Military lapel ribbon for the WASP (WW2)
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2
Military lapel ribbon for the Yom Kippur War
Military lapel ribbon for experimental x-plane aircraft

Images



1 / 3
Image of the Kawasaki C-2
Image from the Japanese Ministry of Defense.
2 / 3
Image of the Kawasaki C-2
Image from official Kawasaki marketing material.
3 / 3
Image of the Kawasaki C-2
Image from the Japanese Ministry of Defense.

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Chart Military Ranks DoD Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content; site is 100% curated by humans.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.


©2023 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2023 (20yrs)