Japanese Maritime Patrol Aircraft First Flight, 'Fly by Light'

[Luig]

Japanese patrol bomber goes aloft for the first time
Oct 10, 2007 1:24 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWfa0J9nnmQ

Kawasaki's XP-1 maritime patrol aircraft, a four-engine jet first unveiled as the P-X, completed an hour-long first flight on Sept. 28 from the Gifu military airbase in Japan.

Manned by a crew of 3, the XP-1 is 124 feet long, has a wingspan of 114 feet and is 39 feet high. With a maximum speed of 500 knots it range is 4320 nautical miles. The XP-1 has a bomb bay for carrying anti-submarine weapons, as well as eight pylons to carry ASM or bombs. It can be armed with ASM, torpedoes or bombs.

With the P-3C aircraft in service for 20 years, the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) had begun looking for a replacement for its maritime patrol aircraft. Lockheed and the USN had been working on the Lockheed P-7 to replace the latter's own P-3s, but the program was cancelled. Since other similar aircraft — such as the Tupolev Tu-142 or Nimrod — did not meet the JMSDF's requirements, Japan decided to develop its own aircraft.

The XP-1 is powered by four Ishikawajima-Harim XF7-10 turbofans mounted in underwing nacelles and is similar in size to a Boeing or Airbus single-aisle airliner. Two of the four engines may be shut down in flight to extend endurance or patrol radius.

The XP-1 will also have an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system to assist the pilot. Similar to the SH-60K, a flight control system that will show the pilot the best flight course to attack a submarine. Also 'fly-by-light' will be an important feature that decreases electromagnetic disturbances to the sensors compared with 'fly-by-wire.' This will increase the search capability of the XP-1. It will be the first production aircraft to be equipped with such a flight control system.

Sensors employing phased array radars, magnetic array detectors, and infrared/light detection systems will be used to detect submarines and small vessels. The JMSDF plans to acquire 80 of the XP-1s. The unit price of the aircraft is $141.5 million.

This post has been edited by Luig on Oct 13 2007, 01:42 PM

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[Warhawk]

Amazing,..looks like a miniture DC-8

They've also developed a stable mate Transport as well, albeit high wing and two engines with a ramp.

Gordy

[Demon50]

Hi Warhawk

I couldn't believe my eyes when I first saw it ! As you you say it's looks like a mini DC8 with a HS748 cockpit mated to the fuselage.

So, so very 60s looking.

[Brendan Cowan]

And what a 60's concept it is to design a new airframe for this mission instead of doing a systems integration job within an existing airframe design!

^_^

BC

[gordon]

Also it isn't very nice calling the second pilot artificially intelligent. ;)

Gordon