Japan To Display Kawasaki Maritime Patrol Aircraft At British Air Show

Japan’s new generation Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft is all set to make an international debut in the UK eyeing the Royal Navy as a potential buyer.

The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces will be sending two P-1 aircraft to the Royal International Air Tattoo in both static and flying displays at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire later this month.

The British Navy had shown interest in the P-1 Maritime Patrol aircraft in a potential $1 billion deal to replace the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod as Britain’s submarine hunter during the Paris Air Show last month.

The UK showed their interest after the self-imposed Japanese defense export restrictions were reversed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and allowed defense manufacturers to find foreign partners.

The P-1 was developed as a replacement for Japanese Self Defense Forces’ P-3C.