The brand new XEC-2 SOJ, which first flew in March 2026, has now began operational flight testing with the JASDF’s Air Growth and Take a look at Wing (ADTW) at Gifu Air Base.
The Japan Air Self-Protection Drive’s EC-2 Digital Warfare Stand-Off Jammer (EW-SOJ) plane, now designated the XEC-2, started its operational check and analysis marketing campaign on Jul. 15, 2026. Pictures and media recorded by a number of Japanese aviation photographers present the plane taking off and touchdown on tJuly 15, whereas the Air Growth and Take a look at Wing (ADTW) launched a video on July 17 on X, confirming the event.
The JASDF launched the primary official pictures of the XEC-2 at Gifu AB on Mar. 12, 2026, practically a month after it was noticed on the similar base in an unofficial picture, whereas parked on the apron. Japanese aviation photographers then reported on Mar. 16, 2026 the EC-2 was present process taxi trials, taking off for the primary time a day afterward Mar. 17.
飛行開発実験団は、令和８年７月１５日にスタンド・オフ電子戦機（ＸＥＣ－２）の飛行試験をはじめました！隊員一同、雨にも負けず、暑さにも負けず、着実かつ安全に試験評価をすすめてまりいます。#飛行開発実験団 #航空自衛隊 #電子戦 pic.twitter.com/8wVoYAenB2
— 航空自衛隊 航空開発実験集団 (@jasdf_adtc) July 17, 2026
On the time, as it may be seen within the pictures by the spotters throughout each these occasions, the plane was not bearing the ATDC emblem on the tail.
Months later, Japan’s MoD reported on Jun. 9 that the JASDF had deployed the “first stand-off digital warfare plane” to the ADTW. These developments counsel the plane is being put via an operational check marketing campaign.
pic.twitter.com/rqA8ZXSNqG
— 航空自衛隊 航空開発実験集団 (@jasdf_adtc) March 17, 2026
First operational check flight
Some fascinating options have been noticed by airplane spotters throughout this milestone occasion. The XEC-2 tail quantity ‘68-1203’ now additionally bears the tail flash of the JASDF’s Air Growth and Experiment Command/Testing Command (ADEC/ADTC), which is able to undertake the operational testing marketing campaign.
Throughout the flight, the plane was additionally accompanied by a JASDF F-2 (the Japanese indigenous fighter based mostly on the F-16s) as a chase plane. The quick video launched by the ADTC confirmed the XEC-2 taking off and recorded by the F-2, earlier than coming again to land.
2026/7/15 岐阜基地2ndXEC-2（1203）随伴機：F-2B（105）飛実マークを引っ提げて、新生カモちゃん空をゆく。少し懐かしいコールサインも聞けて嬉しい限り。#岐阜基地 pic.twitter.com/dozHleIt2U
— Naoki_O (@naoki_o_0557) July 15, 2026
“The Flight Growth Experiment Squadron started flight testing of the Stand-Off Digital Warfare Plane (XEC-2) on July 15, Reiwa 8! The squadron members, undeterred by rain or warmth, are steadily and safely advancing the check evaluations,” the ADTC mentioned on X.
Most likely the scariest Digital Warfare airplane ever made.Japanese XEC-2 Platypus 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7CA65059pn
— Airforce Nerd (@PrecisionLabs0) July 16, 2026
Spotters listening in on open radio communications and ATC channels famous that the plane flew with the “BOXER” name signal. The callsign is often related to the C-1 transport plane of ADTC at Gifu AB.
岐阜基地F15さん 機動飛行とカモノハシさん XEC-2 pic.twitter.com/UqaZ7gqWMh
— ☆NARU☆稲沢市 (@naruse1001) July 15, 2026
Flight tracks of the plane on the date reported by one account confirmed the XEC-2 flying just a bit off Japan’s japanese waters within the western Pacific at an altitude of 8,750 ft.
岐阜基地 飛行開発実験団XEC-2 68-1203部隊マークつけて飛びました。ちょっと懐かしいコールサインでした🤭☺(2026.07.15) pic.twitter.com/znf3uEoVfq
— Taka.Dx (@TakaDx1) July 15, 2026
Pictures launched by each the companies didn’t present the ADTW tail flash on the plane, suggesting it might have been added solely round Jul. 15, earlier than the graduation of the operational testing marketing campaign beneath that physique. The ADTW additionally invited spotters to seize the historic occasion, suggesting how particular a spot the “platypus” – named so due to its oddly-shaped nostril sensor – has among the many spotter group.
今日はXEC-2いっぱい撮れたので追加掲載です! pic.twitter.com/NimzL5RmXg
— tujimon (@orapo960) July 15, 2026
2026/07/15 正式に”XEC-2″と命名のシンカモノハシ、本日、岐阜基地に配備されてからの初飛行、F-2 105がお供してました。戻りのローパス、フルストップです。コールサインはあっと驚く、、、、、、、すぐわかります。私は小牧で聞いてチャット走って降りに間に合いました、ラッキーでした。 pic.twitter.com/NfF5JMYFp9
— rikizo misono (@rikizomisono) July 15, 2026
Japan’s SOJ plane
The June 9 replace by the MoD described the XEC-2 saying that “A standoff digital warfare plane is an plane that helps the execution of Japan Self-Protection Forces air operations via efficient electromagnetic jamming.” The assertion continued: “We’ll steadily develop this stand-off digital warfare plane as a brand new power for the Japan Air Self-Protection Drive, and we respect your continued help.”
The XEC-2’s position and mission profile is similar to different digital warfare plane just like the Turkish Hava SOJ, the Australian MC-55A Peregrine, the U.S. EA-37B Compass Name and the French Archange. The plane was pursued as a home venture to have indigenous functionality within the “delicate and strategic” electromagnetic spectrum warfare applied sciences.
2026/3/16 岐阜飛行場川崎重工改修機地上滑走試験C-2（203）SOJ改修機いよいよ出てきました、次期カモノハシ。本日は地上滑走試験を実施。異様な姿で見慣れるには時間が要ります。#岐阜飛行場#川崎重工しっかしこれ…コクピット視界（前下方）どうなってるんだろ… pic.twitter.com/K28lOY5Nnc
— Naoki_O (@naoki_o_0557) March 16, 2026
The plane, beside the nostril sensor, has two giant bulbous dome-shaped arrays on the highest of the fuselage alongside the backbone, and on the rear sides between the wing and the vertical stabilizer. The brand new platform will change the distinctive EC-1 which has been in service since 1986.
2026/3/17 岐阜飛行場川崎重工改修機試験飛行C-2（203）SOJ改修機ついに新カモノハシ、空へ！案外普通のC-2と同じように離陸していきました。#岐阜飛行場#川崎重工…今更だけど、カモノハシが飛ぶって（以下略 pic.twitter.com/OPEj4GEUGo
— Naoki_O (@naoki_o_0557) March 17, 2026
The EC-2 is the second specialised variant of the C-2, after the RC-2 sign intelligence (SIGINT) plane which flew for the primary time in 2018. The plane, the kind’s second prototype 18-1202, was modified with related, however smaller, bulges in comparison with those of the EC-2.
The J/ALQ-5 digital countermeasures (ECM) system is among the many recognized tools inherited from the EC-1 by the XEC-2. The plane is predicted to be operated by the Denshi Sakusengun (Digital Warfare Operations Group) at Iruma Air Base, the identical which operated the EC-1 and can in future additionally function the RC-2.
