Expert: With disguised strategic bombing capabilities, Japan conducts research on transport aircraft launching long-range missiles AGM | cruise missiles | strikes | the United States | capabilities | Japan | transport aircraft | missiles

Japan is considering modifying its C-2 transport aircraft to have the ability to launch long-range cruise missiles and become a quasi strategic bomber.

According to an article published on the US military website "Warzone" on the 7th, the Japanese Ministry of Defense is considering retrofitting C-2 transport planes into "arsenal aircraft" capable of launching long-range missiles, in order to have long-range strike capabilities.

In the view of military experts, the modified C-2 transport aircraft that can launch long-range cruise missiles will become a quasi strategic bomber, greatly enhancing the long-range strike capability of the Japan Air Self Defense Force.

The maximum carrying capacity of the Japanese C-2 transport aircraft reaches 30 tons.

The C-2 transport plane will transform into a "arsenal aircraft"

According to sources from the Japanese Ministry of Defense quoted by The Japan Times, Japan's modified C-2 transport aircraft can release trays equipped with missiles from the rear hatch. After the release, the trays and missiles separate, and the missiles fly towards the target. The C-2 may carry out in-depth strikes on high-value targets such as military bases and missile launch sites.

According to reports, the Japanese Ministry of Defense will allocate $25.4 million in the 2023 fiscal year to equip C-2 transport planes with tray bombs, envisioning that the C-2 can air drop the AGM-158B "Joint Air to Ground Defense Area Extended Range Missile" carried by the tray. This project can draw inspiration from the US Air Force's "Velociraptor" program, which aims to equip transport aircraft such as C-130 and C-17 with the ability to drop tray bombs without the need for major modifications to the aircraft.

According to sources from the Japanese government, it has not been disclosed which missiles the C-2 can integrate. Japan may consider the AGM-158 cruise missile and is likely to use a derivative of the Type 12 anti-ship missile for ground strike in the future.

The C-2 is a medium-sized transport aircraft developed by Japan to replace the C-1 transport aircraft. The development work was completed in 2016, with a maximum effective load capacity of 30 tons. The C-2 transport aircraft has a maximum flight distance of 6500 kilometers with a standard configuration of 12 tons, and a maximum range of 5000 kilometers with a full load of 30 tons. The upper part of the fuselage has an oil receiving port, which can accept aerial refueling and increase the flight distance. At present, the Japan Air Self Defense Force is equipped with approximately 13 C-2 transport aircraft.

According to information released by the US military, the "Velociraptor" project was proposed by the US Air Force and began implementation in 2019. The goal of the project is to explore a technology that can project missiles on transport planes. The missiles are installed on pallets, equipped with parachutes, and are dropped from the tail gate of the transport plane. The missiles then separate from the pallets, and the engine ignites and flies towards the target.

This tray adopts standardized size design and can be carried by different types of transport planes such as C-17A and C-130. The US C-17A large transport aircraft can carry around 36 AGM-158B missiles using a palletized ammunition system, while the C-130 medium transport aircraft can carry up to 14 missiles.

The US Air Force's "Velociraptor" project is conducting transport aircraft deployment tests for the AGM-158 missile.

Air Force expert Fu Qianshao introduced to Pengpai News that the "Velociraptor" project can be traced back to the concept of "arsenal aircraft" proposed in the 1980s, which envisions transforming Boeing 747 civilian aircraft into cruise missile carriers, capable of carrying up to 72 AGM-86 air launched cruise missiles.

"Transport planes can be used as' guest bombers', and tactical transport planes from the United States, India, and Russia are also used to drop bombs under special circumstances, but their frequency of use is very low and limited to bombs, without missiles. For example, the US BLU-82 fuel air bomb is carried by C-130 transport planes and has been used multiple times on the Afghan battlefield," said Fu Qianshao.

"The long-range strike capability of large transport aircraft equipped with palletized ammunition racks is not lower than that of strategic bombers. The C-17 transport aircraft mentioned above should be able to carry a maximum of 36 AGM-158 missiles, while the US B-1B bomber can only carry this quantity with the use of internal ammunition compartments and external pylons." Fu pointed out that "carrying this quantity of transport aircraft is equivalent to a quasi strategic bomber, and its long-range strike capability cannot be underestimated."

The maximum carrying capacity of the C-2 transport aircraft is higher than that of the C-130 transport aircraft. When using palletized ammunition racks, the ammunition carrying capacity should be higher than that of the C-130, and it may be able to carry 18 AGM-158 missiles or improved Type 12 missiles.

The ammunition tray of the "Speed Dragon" project can accommodate up to 9 missiles.

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"Due to the limitations of the Peace Constitution, Japan cannot possess offensive weapons such as bombers and ballistic missiles. However, if C-2 transport planes are converted into 'arsenal planes' capable of launching missiles, Japan will have quasi strategic bombers," Fu Qianshao pointed out.

In Fu Qianshao's view, Japan's transformation of C-2 transport aircraft into "arsenal aircraft" will significantly enhance the long-range strike capability of the Air Self Defense Force. "Compared with land-based missile launchers, transport planes have a long flight distance, flexible launch positions, and can launch attacks on targets in depth, posing a greater threat. This will have a significant impact on the strength of the Northeast Asian Army and is worth paying attention to," said Fu Qianshao.

The modification of C-2 transport aircraft is part of the Japan Air Self Defense Force's plan to enhance its long-range strike capabilities. In recent years, the Air Self Defense Force has actively enhanced its long-range strike capabilities by introducing American long-range missiles, aerial refueling planes, stealth fighters, and other means.

Currently, Japan is implementing an F-15J fighter jet upgrade project, which was previously suspended in April 2021. According to the plan, the Air Self Defense Force will upgrade 68 F-15J fighter jets to the "Japanese Super Interceptor" standard, and further enhance their combat performance by installing electronic equipment such as radar and cockpit. The most notable feature of the F-15J upgrade project is the integration of the AGM-158B missile imported from the United States.

This missile is a type of standoff air to ground missile developed by the United States, with three models: basic, extended range, and anti-ship. Japan is preparing to introduce the AGM-158B missile with a range of nearly 1000 kilometers and the AGM-158C long-range anti-ship missile capable of attacking large surface warships. The AGM-158 missile adopts stealth design and has strong penetration ability. The missile adopts composite guidance with a maximum hit accuracy of less than 5 meters.

In addition to the F-15J fighter upgrade plan, the F-35 stealth fighter introduced by Japan is also equipped with missiles with long-range strike capabilities. The missile compartment can carry JSM multi-purpose missiles with a range of over 400 kilometers, and with the support of aerial refueling aircraft, it can also attack targets 2000 kilometers away. Japan purchased a total of 147 F-35 fighter jets in two batches, and on January 26, 2018, Japan officially deployed its first F-35 fighter jet.

According to the Warzone website, in addition to the AGM-158 missile imported from the United States, the C-2 transport aircraft may also launch Japan's self-developed Type 12 improved missile.

F-35 fighter jet launches JSM missile concept diagram.

According to a report by Yomiuri Shimbun in August last year, the Japanese government is considering installing over a thousand long-range cruise missiles and deploying them from the Southwest Islands to Kyushu. These over 1000 long-range missiles will be improved from the existing Type 12 shore based anti-ship missiles of the Japan Ground Self Defense Force. After improvement, the missile range will be expanded from 100 kilometers to 1000 kilometers, covering the coastal areas of North Korea and eastern China.

According to reports, the newly developed long-range cruise missile was originally planned to be deployed in 2026, but it is now two years ahead of the original plan and will be deployed as early as 2024.

In the Defense White Paper released at the end of July 2022 in Japan, photos of a long-range cruise missile model were first released to the outside world. The photos were provided by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagoya Guidance and Propulsion Systems Engineering, which means that the missile was also developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Missile expert Li Wensheng previously analyzed in an interview with The Paper that the improved Type 12 missile adopts a stealth design, with significant differences in appearance and aerodynamic layout compared to the Type 12 shore to ship missile. Its range has also been greatly increased, making it a brand new missile. "The reason why Japan calls it the improved Type 12 missile is mainly to reduce the domestic and foreign political resistance encountered by the missile during its development process," said Li Wensheng.

"Compared to non stealth designed cruise missiles, stealth cruise missiles are less likely to be detected by enemy radar and other detection systems, and have stronger penetration capabilities," Li Wensheng pointed out.

In terms of aerial refueling aircraft, Japan has purchased 6 KC-46A and 4 KC-767 refueling aircraft from the United States. The KC-46A is the latest type of refueling aircraft currently in service in the United States, capable of carrying up to 94 tons of fuel for aerial refueling. The main fighter jets of the Air Self Defense Force, such as the F-15J, F-35A, and F-2, have aerial refueling capabilities. After aerial refueling, the combat radius can generally exceed 1200 kilometers. Combined with long-range air-to-ground missiles, it can strike high-value targets in the depth of the opponent.