Japan’s Aviation Improvement and Testing Group has launched official pictures of the JASDF’s EC-2 Stand-Off Jammer plane which was first noticed final month at Gifu Air Base.
The Japan Air Self-Protection Power’s Aviation Improvement and Testing Group has launched the primary official pictures of the brand new EC-2 Stand-Off Jammer plane, offering a close-up take a look at the platform. The plane was first noticed in February 2026 at Gifu Air Base, the place it was caught at a distance within the background of a photograph displaying a Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol plane taking off.
The EC-2 is the most recent in a variety of Japanese plane with uncommon modifications, and has been in improvement since 2021. The brand new pictures affirm that the plane is certainly the previous C-2 18-1203, the primary manufacturing plane, as we talked about in our earlier report right here at The Aviationist.
The secretive plane has to this point been proven solely in a rendering by the Ministry of Protection, with these being now the primary official pictures of the particular plane. The brand new platform will substitute the distinctive EC-1 which has been in service since 1986.
未確認地上物体#岐阜基地#飛行開発実験団 pic.twitter.com/ZrwkmWeAUx
— 航空自衛隊 航空開発実験集団 (@jasdf_adtc) March 12, 2026
The EC-2 is the second specialised variant of the C-2, after the RC-2 sign intelligence (SIGINT) plane flew for the primary time in 2018. The plane, the sort’s second prototype 18-1202, was modified with related, however smaller, bulges in comparison with those of the EC-2.
The EC-2 SOJ
The brand new EC-2 Stand-Off Jammer (SOJ) is a spinoff of the Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) C-2 transport plane. The plane has been modified with a bulbous nostril – just like the EC-1’s nostril – in addition to two giant bulges on the highest of the fuselage, whereas two extra must be positioned on the perimeters of the fuselage between the wings and the horizontal stabilizers.
The EC-2 is being developed to disrupt an adversary’s digital warfare (EW) capabilities whereas nonetheless flying exterior of the menace’s vary. The Japanese Ministry of Protection beforehand mentioned the plane shall be used to help counter air operations along side different tactical property.
Particulars about this system are at the moment restricted, and solely discovered within the MoD price range paperwork, which point out ¥41.4 billion have been allotted to the event. That is included in a bigger ¥508.6 billion funding to strengthen intelligence assortment and evaluation capabilities.
The event of each the EC-2 and RC-2 platforms is particularly talked about as a part of the MoD’s effort to “Enhance capabilities to assemble electromagnetic data crucial for digital jamming and digital safety” and “Develop crucial tools to consistently and repeatedly collect, course of, and analyze data particularly on navy traits within the neighborhood of Japan.”
The plane will substitute the distinctive EC-1, which has been in service since 1986, however in a bigger fleet. Actually, whereas the EC-1 program resulted in a single plane, the EC-2 fleet will embrace 4 plane, in line with MoD price range paperwork.
This system is split in two phases, specializing in the combination of the brand new capabilities and their refinement, respectively. Among the many tools there shall be elements inherited from the EC-1, such because the J/ALQ-5 digital countermeasures (ECM) system and superior radio wave measurement programs.
The plane is anticipated to be operated by the Denshi Sakusengun (Digital Warfare Operations Group) at Iruma Air Base, the identical which operates the EC-1 and can in future additionally function the RC-2.
Kawasaki C-2
The C-2 is an extended vary twin-engine transport plane designed by Kawasaki to exchange its earlier C-1 transport plane. The plane is, like its predecessor, a homegrown Japanese design, which flew for the primary time in January 2010 and entered service six years later in 2016.
Whereas smaller than different four-engined jet transport plane just like the C-17 Globemaster III, the C-2 is considerably bigger than the C-1 it changed or the opposite twin-engine navy jet cargo plane, the Embraer C-390. The plane is roughly equal in capability to the Airbus A400M, however provides the next cruise velocity, service ceiling, and elevated vary.
The C-2 is able to transporting 110 individuals and might fly for about 7,600 kilometers (4,100 nmi) with 20 tons of cargo or 4,500 km ( 2,400 nmi) with a payload of 36 tons. The plane can be in a position to take-off in 500 m from semi-prepared runways.
The C-2 makes use of Normal Electrical CF6 turbofan engines that are extensively employed in each civilian and navy service. These are notably used additionally by Japan’s KC-767 tankers, although the newer KC-46s as a substitute use Pratt & Whitney powerplants.
