UAE Considering Japan's C-2 Military Transport Aircraft

The Japanese government is considering sale of the Air Self-Defense Force's latest transport aircraft, the C-2, to the United Arab Emirates.

According to a report by The Nikkei, the government is in discussion with UAE for the purchase of 19 billion yen ($173 million) worth C-2 aircraft, although the specific number of aircraft is not known yet. The Emirates government has been provided with specifications and other related information about the aircraft.

Both the governments are in now negotiating a final price and the number of aircraft, the report says.

While the Japanese government is screening whether the sale can go through, another Defense Ministry official said the deal might be able to squeeze by since "the UAE is not the one who is leading the intervention" in Yemen.

The C-2, developed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, has a cruising range of 7,600km, roughly twice as far as that of Lockheed Martin's C-130 Hercules, which the ASDF also uses. In addition, the C-2 can carry 20 tons or so, four times more than the C-130. The C-2 is wide enough to carry amphibious and combat vehicles, and can handle missions to remote islands.