page_title: Kawasaki P-1
section_title: Operational history
hierarchical_section_title: Kawasaki P-1 / Operational history
caption_attribution_description: 日本語: 海上自衛隊　P-1哨戒機（5506号機）　離陸時。 14年9月14日　岩国航空基地にて。
context_page_description: The Kawasaki P-1 is a Japanese maritime patrol aircraft developed and manufactured by Kawasaki Aerospace Company. Unlike many maritime patrol aircraft, which are typically conversions of civilian designs, the P-1 is a purpose-built maritime aircraft with no civil counterpart and was designed from the onset for the role. It has the distinction of being the first operational aircraft in the world to make use of a fly-by-optics control system.
  The P-1 has entered service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force as a replacement for the P-3C Orion. On 26 March 2013, the JMSDF took delivery of the first two operational P-1 aircraft. Export customers are also being sought for the type as part of a general loosening of Japanese military export restrictions.
context_section_description: On 31 August 2007, the Japanese Ministry of Defense revealed that they would procure four production airframes. The request in the FY2008 budget was 67.9 billion yen, or about US$566 million, the unit price for each aircraft at US$141.5 million. In 2013, the ministry ordered two units for ¥44.5 billion. These P-1s were reported to possess increased detection/discrimination capability, flight performance, information processing capability, and strike capabilities as a successor to the existing P-3C fixed-wing patrol aircraft.
  In June 2007, Kawasaki rolled out the XP-1, a prototype for the P-X program. The rollout had been delayed for three months due to the discovery of defective rivets provided by a US supplier which required remedial repairs to be performed. On 28 September 2007, the XP-1 conducted its maiden flight from Gifu Air Field, Kakamigahara, Gifu, Japan; this flight lasted about one hour and ended successfully. The P-X was redesignated XP-1 at this time. By March 2010, Kawasaki Heavy Industries had delivered four XP-1 maritime patrol test aircraft to Japanese Ministry of Defense; the company also stated its aim for type certification to be achieved in time for the formal delivery of the first two aircraft by the end of March 2012.
  On 8 August 2011, the Japanese Ministry of Defense announced that two aircraft used for ground testing had developed tears in various parts of the craft, including the fuel tank and central part of the fuselage. In response, modifications to reinforce the affected areas were planned. By October 2012, the problems had been reportedly resolved. On 26 March 2013, Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force took delivery of its first pair of P-1s, ahead of a planned two years of test flights. On 14 May 2013, these aircraft were grounded after one developed an unstable combustion condition in some of its engines during mid-flight.
  During efforts to sell the aircraft to the UK, a pair of P-1s (one of Air Development Squadron 51 and one of Air Patrol Squadron 3 were present for the 2015 Royal International Air Tattoo, one aircraft performing a flying display while the other was on static display; this was the first time that any Japanese military aircraft had performed in a European flight display. After its UK appearance, the P-1s proceeded to the Japan Self-Defense Force Base Djibouti at Ambouli International Airport, Djibouti, to continue with operational trials within tropical and desert climates.
  In November 2016, two P-1s in New Zealand to celebrate the Royal New Zealand Navy's 75th anniversary took part in damage surveys after the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake along with P-3 Orions of the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the United States Navy.
  In June 2017 a P-1 appeared at the Paris Air Show.
  In August 2017 Air Patrol Squadron 3 became the first all P-1 operational squadron.
  In December 2018, the Japanese Ministry of Defense alleged that a Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyer of the South Korean Navy locked its separate target illumination radar onto a P-1 belonging to Air Patrol Squadron 3. The South Korean Navy stated that it had used the radar of an optical camera system and not a fire control system. The incident led to a diplomatic row between Japan and South Korea.
caption: A P-1 just prior to landing, 2014
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