Japan To Exhibit C2 Heavy Lift Military Transport Plane At Dubai Air Show

Japan’s new long-range heavy lift military cargo aircraft will be showcased for the first time in an international exhibition in United Arab Emirates next month.

Built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, the C-2 will fly to the UAE on Nov. 8 to participate in the Dubai Airshow, while later that month, it will present the aircraft to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), the Japan Air Self Defence Force said in a news release.

“A number of nations have shown interest in the C-2 and we want to show off our advanced technology,” Japan’s Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera was quoted as saying by Reuters during regular media briefing.

A C-2 sale would secure Japan its first major overseas arms contract.

The KHI C-2 formally entered service into the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) in March 2016. The JASDF currently operates four C-2s but it is expected to order about 60 aircraft in total to replace its ageing Kawasaki C-1 and Lockheed Martin C-130H transports.