ShinMaywa US 2

Design and development

With the Shin Meiwa US-1A fleet introduced in the 1970s beginning to reach the end of its service life, the JMSDF attempted to obtain funding for a replacement in the 1990s, but could not obtain enough to develop an entirely new aircraft. Therefore, in 1995, ShinMaywa (as Shin Meiwa was by then renamed) began plans for an upgraded version of the US-1A, the US-1A kai (US-1A 改 - "improved US-1A"). This aircraft features numerous aerodynamic refinements, a pressurised hull, and more powerful Rolls-Royce AE 2100 engines. Flight tests began on December 18, 2003. The JMSDF purchased up to 14 of these aircraft, which entered service as the ShinMaywa US-2.

Operational history

The aircraft is currently operated by the 31st Fleet Air Wing (71st Air Force, 71st Flight Squadron) at Iwakuni air base and Atsugi air base.

In April 2015 aircraft 9905 was involved in an accident. The aircraft was on a training mission near Cape Ashizuri in Shikoku and four crew members were injured.

Export

The Indian Navy has a requirement for 12–18 US-2 Amphibious Search and Rescue aircraft at a cost of $USD1.65 billion. It is expected that these amphibious aircraft will be stationed in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. As of October 2016, a contract has not been signed by India, but ShinMaywa has reduced the price to around $USD 113 million per aircraft.

There were expectations that a contract for the order would be signed in November 2016, but it was deferred by the Indian defense minister Manohar Parrikar.

There have also been reports that Thailand is interested in purchasing the aircraft.

Indonesia is another prospective customer.

Operators

Prospective Operators

Specifications (US-2)

Data from ShinMaywa

General characteristics

Performance