Reference News Network, July 1 report - According to a report by the Nikkei Shimbun on June 28, it has been learned that the Japan Audit Office's investigation results show that the operational status of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's P-1 patrol aircraft developed domestically is relatively low, with engine failures and spare parts shortages being the main reasons. Given that the country has already invested 1.7 trillion yen (about 11.8 billion U.S. dollars) in the P-1 patrol aircraft project, the audit office pointed out that "the Ministry of Defense needs to focus on solving these issues."

The P-1 patrol aircraft is a domestically developed aircraft by companies such as Kawasaki Heavy Industries. It has the capability for long-duration flights and is mainly used for surveillance and intelligence gathering of ships and submarines of other countries in surrounding seas. The P-1 patrol aircraft was put into service in March 2013, and as of September 2024, a total of 35 P-1 patrol aircraft were stationed at air bases in Atsugi (in Kanagawa Prefecture), Kasuga (in Kagoshima Prefecture), and Shimousa (in Chiba Prefecture).

The Ministry of Defense set a goal to have all aircraft not undergoing regular maintenance or repair operations in service. However, an investigation by the audit office into the operational status of the P-1 patrol aircraft from 2019 to 2023 found that only some of the aircraft could carry out missions without restrictions.

The audit office pointed out that equipment failure is one of the reasons for the poor operational condition. Due to factors such as salt deposits in the air, some materials of the engines manufactured by IHI Corporation are corroded, causing a certain number of P-1 patrol aircraft to be unable to operate normally. Electronic equipment and countermeasures required during missions also have malfunction problems.

The audit office recommended relevant agencies to explore solutions and effectively utilize the accumulated knowledge and experience to improve the design.

Another reason is the shortage of spare parts. Due to the rapid changes in the international situation, semiconductor shortages, and a lack of personnel, the time from ordering to delivery of components has been significantly extended. When repairing aircraft, components can only be allocated among different aircraft, resulting in a situation where "one wall is torn down to patch another."

The audit office emphasized the need to explore effective methods for purchasing spare parts. For security reasons, specific operational data were not disclosed.

The P-3C patrol aircraft was the main reconnaissance aircraft of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. This aircraft was developed by an American company and authorized for production by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has been deploying the P-1 patrol aircraft as a successor to the P-3C patrol aircraft.

From development, production to operation, the Japanese government has invested about 1.7 trillion yen by the 2023 fiscal year. The P-1 patrol aircraft is expected to be completely retired by the 2054 fiscal year. According to estimates by the Defense Equipment Agency, the total cost from the start of research and development to the end of its operation is approximately 4.1 trillion yen.

The audit office explained that the P-1 patrol aircraft "plays an important role in maintaining maritime sovereignty and vital sea routes" and pointed out based on this that "Japan is facing the most severe and complex security environment since the end of the war, and the P-1 patrol aircraft must maintain sufficient operational status."

The importance of patrol aircraft is increasing. In February of this year, a Russian naval intelligence ship made its first voyage in the contiguous zone near Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. Patrol aircraft can reach the scene faster than ships, making them an indispensable asset for Japan's national security. A low operational rate of the P-1 patrol aircraft may lead to safety hazards in Japanese waters.

The issue of low operational rates of defense equipment has long been a problem. In late 2022, the Japanese government issued the "National Defense Strategy," which explicitly stated that "the current self-defense force's ability to sustain combat operations is not sufficient."

A low operational rate will also have a negative impact on Japan's defense equipment export strategy. Leonardo, an Italian defense giant, proposed to advance joint development with the Italian Ministry of Defense based on the P-1 patrol aircraft. The company's executive revealed this information in an interview with the Nikkei Shimbun in May of this year.

The Ministry of Defense commented that it would "take the audit office's opinion seriously." It is reported that by promoting the signing of comprehensive contracts including equipment inspection and maintenance, Japan aims to resolve the problem of aircraft being unable to operate due to spare parts shortages by the 2027 fiscal year. (Translated by Ma Xiaoyun)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7522010041545785891/

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