Japan boosts its electronic warfare (EW) and ELINT capabilities with RC-2 intelligence-gathering aircraft
MELBOURNE, Australia – The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) has inducted the first of a new kind of intelligence-gathering aircraft into service, following a two-year flight test program. C4ISRnet reports. Continue reading original article
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
15 Oct. 2020 -- The JASDF announced the induction of the RC-2 electronic intelligence (ELINT)-gathering aircraft at Iruma Air Base in the western suburbs of the Japanese capital Tokyo earlier this month.
The RC-2 electronic warfare (EW) jet is based on the Kawasaki Heavy Industries C-2 airlifter and has been heavily modified with multiple aircraft fairings that contain antennas for detecting, receiving and classifying electronic emissions. The aircraft made its maiden flight in early 2018, though the variant had been in development since at least 2015.
Since that time, it underwent a series of flight tests conducted by the JASDF Air Development and Test Wing at Iruma, where the force’s ELINT squadron is based.
Related: Enabling technologies for airborne electronic warfare
Related: Electronic warfare technology heading-up the battlefield
John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics
