Thailand Interested in US-2 Amphibious Aircraft

Thai Prime Minister and Defense Minister of Thailand in exclusive interview with Kyodo News in Bangkok said, "Thai Air Force has expressed interest in Japan aircraft."
The aircraft is meant seaplane of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force US2, which aims to export overseas.
He stressed that "it is necessary to comprehensively determine such as price and convenience." If the conditions are agreeable, it suggested the possibility to start a specific study toward the purchase. India and Indonesia also have shown an interest in buying on US-2 aircraft.
defense-studies

Indonesia looks to procure Japan's US-2 aircraft

Indonesia and Japan are looking to develop a procurement plan featuring Indonesia's potential purchase of US-2 amphibious search-and-rescue (SAR) aircraft.
An MoD statement said that Indonesian Defence Minister and Indonesia's ambassador to Japan,discussed the potential US-2 procurement on 5 May.
It added that any move to buy the US-2 would be linked to the defence memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by Indonesia and Japan in March that outlines a commitment from both countries to collaborate on military equipment and technologies.
The Japanese government is now waiting for systems specifications required and a purchase plan from the government of Indonesia.
janes

Indonesia Considering Buying Japan’s US-2 Amphibious Aircraft

Indonesian Defense Minister said Monday his government is considering the possibility of buying the US-2 amphibious aircraft from Japan.
The Indonesian defense minister said the US-2 is well suited for the geographical conditions of Indonesia, a country of thousands of islands.
Noting that both Japan and Indonesia are archipelagic countries that frequently have to contend with natural disasters like earthquakes.
Indonesia is seeking to strengthen its maritime forces, sea patrol functions and search and rescue operations in surrounding waters.
The US-2 can land on and take off from the sea. The aircraft is already in use by the Self-Defense Forces.
In March, Japan and Indonesia signed a defense agreement that stipulates cooperation in several sectors, including maritime cooperation and disaster management.
The US-2 is expected to be on the agenda when the two countries launch “two-plus-two” security talks between their defense and foreign ministers, according to diplomatic sources.
India is also considering purchasing the US-2.
Meanwhile, Indonesia is also assessing the possibility of purchasing the Be-200 multipurpose amphibious aircraft from Russia.
defense-studies

India-Japan Talks To Focus on Strategic Ties, Possible Aircraft Deal

India and Japan will discuss the possible joint production of the Japanese US-2 amphibious aircraft during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Tokyo visit Aug. 30-Sept. 3.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Japan will include talks on possible joint production of amphibious aircraft and other matters related to strategic and defense ties between the two countries.
With a range of 4,500 kilometers, US-2s can be used to protect India’s “strategic interests,” the MoD official added.
The US-2 aircraft could be placed at the Andaman and Nicobar islands in the Indian Ocean, the base of India’s Tri-Command, which keeps vigil on China and which would spearhead any littoral warfare operation in the Indian Ocean.
The Indian Navy and Air Force in 2011 issued a request for information for the purchase of amphibious aircraft, to which ShinMaywa, Canada’s Bombardier and Russia’s Beriev Aircraft responded.
defensenews

India close to buying japanese US-2 hydro planes military aircraft

India is set to become the first country since World War Two to buy a military aircraft from Japan. the US-2 hydro planes.
New Delhi is likely to buy at least 15 of the planes.
For the moment, a stripped-down civilian version of the US-2i plane is being offered to India, to get around Japan's self-imposed ban on arms exports. A friend or foe identification system will be removed from the aircraft, another defence official said.
The two countries are discussing assembling the aircraft in India, giving India access to Japanese military technology.
The plane has a range of over 4,500 km (2,800 miles), which will give it reach far into Southeast Asia.
The navy plans to use the Japanese-built plane to support ships on long range missions, a role that is increasing as it steps up its profile across the Indian Ocean to counter rival China.
The two governments have set up a joint working group that will meet in March to consider plans to either set up a plant in India to assemble it under licence by an Indian state manufacturer.
The plan is to deliver two aircraft and then assemble the rest of the planes with an Indian partner.
India's navy is also interested in Japanese patrol vessels and electronic warfare equipment as Tokyo moves further along in easing its ban on military exports.
reuters

Japanese firm looks for partnership in India for servicing of US-2

ShinMaywa Industries Ltd has intensified its search to identify an Indian collaborator, mainly for maintenance, repair, and overhaul US-2 aircraft for servicing US-2 to Indian Navy.
The company, however, wouldn’t want to partner with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Having earlier shown interest in the Indian Navy’s requirement for nine such platforms, primarily to carry out search and rescue, the company, which has limited presence in the Indian civil aviation market for nearly 20 years, hopes to forge a strategic alliance with India in the larger context of the expanding Indo-Japan relations.
thehindu

Japan set to sell US-2 plane to India

Japan is close to signing an agreement to supply amphibious planes to India, a report said yesterday, in what would be the first sale of hardware used by the military since a weapons export ban was imposed.

scmp.com

Japan Proposed Indonesia Amphibians

Japan's defense ministry offered Indonesia ShinMaywa amphibians US-2, according to Jane's.

defense-studies