Japan Navy to resume use of P-1 patrol planes

The Maritime Self-Defense Force is expected to resume operations of its P-1 maritime patrol aircraft as early as this month, as the Defense Ministry has identified the cause of trouble with the plane’s engines that caused one of the aircraft to experience engine failure midflight in May.
The ministry announced Sept. 27 that the cause of patrol aircraft’s trouble was a problem in the fuel engine injection valves. The MSDF suspended flights of the P-1 planes following the incident.
The ministry will repair five P-1 planes deployed at its bases, including Atsugi Air Base in Kanagawa Prefecture.
According to the ministry, the incident occurred on May 13 over the Pacific Ocean during a test flight. At the time, the aircraft was trying to execute a nosedive from an altitude of about 10,000 meters to confirm the stability of warning systems. However, fuel combustion in the engines became unstable and all four briefly stopped working.
The MSDF and IHI Corp., which manufactured the engines, checked the plane and found that an irregularity in the fuel injection valves prevented a sufficient supply of fuel.
Following the incident, the makers improved programs responsible for controlling the valves to increase the flow of fuel.
Currently, the P-1 planes are in test operations. The ministry aims to start full-fledged operations in fiscal 2015 mainly for warning and surveillance in the East China Sea.
the-japan-news

The Next Vietnam Submarine Hunter : C295, P3C or PX

To enhance maritime patrol and submarine hunting in the South China Sea, Vietnam is planning to equip the modern submarine hunting aircraft.
Navy Vietnam are looking to buy a navy patrol plane new, but Vietnam is still not satisfied with the proposed P-3C Orion from the U.S.
Vietnam Ministry of Defense is considering a number of naval patrol aircraft modernization, which includes Airbus Military C-295, the Lockheed P-3 Orion Marin and the type of PX Japan.
Aircraft Kawasaki XP-1 submarine hunting first prototype first flew successfully. 3/2010, Kawasaki has delivered 4 the XP-1 for the Japanese Ministry of Defense test. XP-1 is designed to perform multiple tasks including maritime patrol, reconnaissance, hunting submarines, surface ships and combat search and rescue. XP-1 38m long, wingspan of 35.4 m, 12.1 m high, maximum takeoff weight of 79.7 tons.
Besides hunting ground plane PX, the leading candidate is known for the choice of Vietnam's P-3 Orion. Aircraft P-3 Orion submarine hunter capable of carrying 9 tons ordnance:AGM-84H / K Harpoon, AGM- 84E SLAM, missiles, AGM-65F Maverick on land, and Mk-46 torpedoes, Mk-50, Mk-54.
Airbus Military, said Vietnam was also considering buying aircraft variant C -295 of their anti-submarine patrols, but then the plan has been delayed for a long time. However, the relationship of defense cooperation between Vietnam and the European companies are also quite cozy, typical Coast Guard forces have ordered 3 patrol aircraft CASA C-212's and Airbus are considering buy 3 transport aircraft C-295 of Indonesia.
defense-studies