Kawasaki C-1A

     Notes: This Japanese transport was first accepted into service in 1970 to replace the C-46 in its Air Defense Force’s service.  Looking similar to a smaller, shorter C-17, these aircraft have been steadily upgraded with more advanced electronics allowing it to be used under almost any conditions and to drop large items or do LAPES insertions.  The primary use for the C-1 is to supply outlying islands, support Japanese industry, and to support military assistance and humanitarian operations. The C-1 is flown only by the Japanese JASDF.

     The C-1 does not have ejection seats and is not capable of aerial refueling. It is equipped with several lift devices, including Fowler Flaps and leading-edge slats, which contribute to its STOL takeoff and landing profile. Several electronic devices, including inertial navigation and radar, allow it all weather performance. The C-1 is powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney JT8D-M-9 turbofan engines in pods under the inner wings, and these develop 14,500 pounds thrust each. The C-1 can settle onto its landing gear, “kneeling” to aid in loading cargo, and there is a large ramp at the rear to load the aircraft. If there is a shortcoming in the C-1A, it is in its short range; the C-1A can barely make it to Okinawa and back with internal fuel.  To this end, the last five C-1As were delivered with some of the rear cargo area taken up with a large internal fuel tank, at the expense of a chunk of cargo capacity.

     The EC-1, an electronic warfare and intelligence variant, carries mostly its sensors and EW gear, though it can carry a small amount of cargo, as well as the personnel to operate its equipment.  Only one was built.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: During the Twilight War, they were standouts in the defense of islands like Okinawa, and were also used for limited paratrooper drops as far away as Korea.  In addition, the electronic warfare variant, the EC-1, was used to jam Russian and North Korean radio and radar transmissions to good effect, as well as to conduct electronic reconnaissance.

Shin Meiwa US-1

     Notes: This is a Japanese built STOL amphibian that may be used for cargo transportation, search and rescue, and ASW duties. The aircraft began as the PS-1 patrol seaplane and was later developed into the more versatile US-1 utility seaplane. Both are based on the American HU-16 Albatross amphibious aircraft, but has a T-tail and numerous design differences that differentiate them from their parent design.

     The PS-1 was developed as an amphibious maritime patrol/ASW aircraft.  The PS-1 is not a true amphibian; it can be moved on land and carries its own beaching equipment, but cannot use conventional runways, being limited to takeoffs and landings on water. The PS-1 is powered as its prototype, with two 1425-horsepower Wright radials, along with a pair of Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radials outboard. In addition, the PS-1 has a GE T58 turboshaft compressed air generator used to assist in takeoffs and landings on water by controlling boundary layer effects; this has 1250 horsepower and is generally not designed to sustain power in flight. The second fuel type is for the T58 turboshaft. The PS-1 also has a system to redirect sea spray and propwash over the wings, further decreasing takeoff distance. The PS-1’s dipping sonar cannot be used in flight; the PS-1 must land on water to deploy its sonar, taxiing along the water to tow its dipping sonar.  The PS-1 can land on and taxi on water in seas of up to three meters. The PS-1 is not pressurized and carries only emergency oxygen equipment, though it does have air conditioning and heating. The PS-1 is generally armed with a mix of torpedoes, depth charges, and 5-Inch Zuni rockets, carrying them on underwing hardpoints, often equipped with MERs. On the outboard of its wings are a pair of floats to support the wings during water operations. No ejection seats are provided, and the aircraft is not capable of in-flight refueling. 

     In 1976, a single PS-1 was experimentally modified into a water bomber for firefighting duties, but this experiment ended with no production examples and other aircraft were used for the envisioned firefighting mission. This version carried 7350 liters of water internally.  This aircraft will not be detailed further here.

     Japan planned for the PS-1 to be operationally succeeded by the then-new P-3 Orions imported from the US in 1980, and this would make the PS-1 obsolete.  However, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force (that is what Japan calls their Navy) was looking for an amphibious SARbird (an aircraft designed for search and rescue functions), and felt that the PS-1’s design was a good place to start. The new aircraft, the US-1 (Utility Seaplane), first flew in 1974 and entered service in 1975.  There were some changes; the US-1 has one door on each side and a cargo door at the rear.  The US-1 is a true amphibian, having the ability to land on water, and also having retractable landing gear for operation from land-based runways.  There are large bulges on the sides of the aircraft for the retraction of this landing gear, with the nose wheel being retracted under the aircraft’s nose internally. Much of the military equipment of the PS-1 is deleted (particularly the crew workstations and the dipping sonar in the tail), freeing up room for more fuel. The US-1 is powered by four 3400-horsepower Ishikawjima-Harima/GE T64-IHI-10 turboprops, lesser-rated versions of the US-1A’s engines. The US-1A is powered by four Ishikawjima-Harima/GE T64-IHI-10J turboprops with 3493 horsepower.  In addition, both have a T58-IHI-10-M2 turboshaft compressed air generator used to assist in takeoffs and landings on water by controlling boundary layer effects; this has 1400 horsepower and is generally not mounted to sustain power in flight.