Within the first UK go to for the kind outdoors of an airshow, Kawasaki C-2 58-1218 arrived at RAF Coningsby in gorgeous night mild on Sept. 17, 2025.
One among two C-2s performing as a help plane for Operation Atlantic Eagles, a goodwill deployment of 4 Japan Air Self-Protection Power (JASDF) F-15J Eagles to Europe, 58-1218 arrived at 1805 native time (1705 UTC) utilizing the callsign Japanese Air Power 101. It departed from CFB Goose Bay, Canada, the place the 4 F-15Js and different help plane stopped over after routing through Eielson AFB, Alaska, from Chitose AB, Japan.
58-1218 was delivered in March of this yr, making it one of many latest plane within the C-2 fleet in addition to one of many latest in the entire JASDF. 22 examples of the kind have been ordered, at present comprising the bottom C-2 transport variant and the RC-2 intelligence variant.
Arriving forward of the fighter plane, the C-2 doubtless carried personnel and a variety of floor gear to be arrange able to obtain the F-15Js once they arrive. Although they’d appear to be a reasonably common software, gadgets like ladders for cockpit and airframe entry are sometimes designed uniquely for various plane sorts owing to various heights and fuselage profiles. Moreover, consumption blanks and different protecting gear will likely be required upon arrival. A extra vast ranging complement of spares and gear, in addition to extra personnel, would comply with on aboard the second C-2 in addition to the KC-46 and KC-767 refueling plane supporting the fighters’ transit.
Sept. 18, 2025#JASDF Chitose Air Base #Eielson AFB #Goose Bay ==> #RAF Coningsby#JF101 #87CDE4 JASDF Kawasaki C-2 pic.twitter.com/3Fo4i0nVDj
— Heo TaeJin (@AIYeyENGDdJkjTr) September 17, 2025
The Kawasaki C-2 made its debut go to to the UK in 2018 when airframe 68-1203 was exhibited on the Royal Worldwide Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford, generally generally known as RIAT. 18-1215 then adopted in 2022, once more for RIAT. This go to, then, marks the primary go to for the plane sort to the UK outdoors of an airshow. Although they resemble U.S. Air Power plane serial numbers, which frequently start with the monetary yr the plane was ordered, Japanese serial numbers comply with a special sample.
The primary digit refers back to the closing digit of the yr of manufacture – 18-1215 was delivered in 2021, 68-1203 in 2016, and, as talked about above, 58-1218 in 2025. The second digit is assigned primarily based on plane sort, although due to the variety of plane sorts in service each now and previously this isn’t distinctive. The quantity 8, used for the Kawasaki C-2, was additionally used for its C-1 predecessor. The third digit – the primary after the hyphen – denotes the plane’s base function. All C-2s carry a ‘1’ on this spot, which signifies a transport plane, whereas all of the visiting F-15s carry ‘8’, which is without doubt one of the numbers used for fighter plane. Lastly, the final three digits are sequentially assigned, with the primary C-2 carrying ‘201’ and every following plane counting up from there.
Although the Japanese contingent arrives within the midst of Train Cobra Warrior 25-2, it’s extensively reported that the F-15Js are unlikely to fly throughout their UK go to. Japanese newspaper Asahi quoted Common Hiroaki Uchikura, a former JASDF pilot and present Chief of Employees of the Joint Employees Workplace, saying: “It is vitally anxious to fly to a rustic one has by no means flown to and to land at an airport by no means earlier than visited. The preparations which can be wanted are past creativeness, but when that is pulled off, it will likely be very significant.”
It’s hoped, although, that this preliminary goodwill go to – the primary ever deployment of JASDF fighter plane to Europe – will pave the way in which for future deployments with extra flight exercise. Such deployments would grow to be simpler to plan sooner or later with the entry into service of the International Fight Air Programme (GCAP) fighter, with JASDF plane theoretically in a position to share present help gear and spares from the UK’s fleet.
The remainder of the JASDF plane are anticipated to reach within the UK on Sept. 18, with the F-15Js more likely to arrive in at RAF Coningsby within the night. The 2 refueling plane are attributable to be stabled alongside the RAF’s transport fleet at RAF Brize Norton. After a number of days of cultural exchanges with UK crews, the Japanese power will then depart for the subsequent leg of the Atlantic Eagles deployment in Laage, Germany.
Kawasaki C-2
The C-2 was designed by Kawasaki to interchange its earlier C-1 transport plane. It’s, like its predecessor, a homegrown Japanese design, with no overseas developed plane assessed as offering all the capabilities that Japan required in its new airlifter. The primary airframe carried out the kind’s maiden flight in January 2010, and the C-2 formally entered Japanese service six years later in 2016.
Although smaller than four-engined jet transports just like the C-17 Globemaster III, the C-2 is considerably bigger than the C-1 it changed and is roughly equal in capability to the Airbus A400M. In comparison with the turboprop airlifter, although, the C-2 presents a better cruise velocity, service ceiling, and elevated vary. Its Common Electrical CF6 turbofan engines are extensively employed in each civilian and army service, powering the Airbus A330, Lockheed C-5M Tremendous Galaxy, and a portion of Boeing 747s together with the U.S. Air Power’s VC-25A and E-4B plane. Additionally it is utilized by Japan’s KC-767 tankers, although the newer KC-46s as an alternative use Pratt & Whitney powerplants.
The primary downside to the C-2 stems from its bespoke nature and low order numbers, not in a position to profit from the economies of scale that a lot of its rivals can. This makes it a extra unattractive prospect for the export market, however Kawasaki is investigating methods to counter this difficulty and make manufacturing cheaper. Till the mid-2010s, Japanese legal guidelines positioned heavy restrictions on the export of army gear.
Since modifications in these legal guidelines, producers like Kawasaki have been laborious at work selling merchandise just like the C-2 and their P-1 maritime patrol plane at abroad airshows. Some events have additionally reportedly expressed curiosity within the distinctive ShinMaywa US-2 seaplane.
In essence, this opening of the Japanese army export market to the world goes hand in hand with the nation’s eagerness to extend army cooperation with allies by way of missions like Atlantic Eagles. Aviation fans within the West will likely be wanting to see these developments proceed, with the one solution to see a lot of Japan’s distinctive plane previously being to make the costly journey throughout to Asia themselves.
Many due to Glenn Lockett for permitting us to make use of these unimaginable photographs of the C-2’s arrival!
