Japan delays C-2 service entry after door issue in testing

Japan is delaying the introduction into service of the Kawasaki C-2 transport aircraft to investigate why a door broke during pressurisation testing in January.
The Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI) was investigating the cause.
The MoD had planned to deploy the first operational C-2 in early 2015. This now appears unlikely to happen.
The JASDF requires up to 60 C-2s to replace Kawasaki C-1 and Lockheed Martin C-130H transports, with 10 originally scheduled to be delivered in the next four years.
The C-2 is intended to provide much greater range than the platforms it is replacing, with a stated range of 3,023 n miles (5,598 km; 3,478 miles) when carrying its maximum payload of 30 tonnes.
JASDF officials have previously said they want to modify some C-2s for surveillance and reconnaissance operations, which are currently carried out by NAMC YS-11 airframes that are more than 40 years old. The MoD has approved the purchase of six ex-US Marine Corps KC-130Rs to replace YS-11 transports in Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force service.
Japan's shortage of airlift capabilities was also highlighted in the 3 March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
Kawasaki has also offered a civilian cargo version of the C-2, called the YCX, on the international market.
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