Japan will deploy P-1 in event of PLA sub attack Staff Reporter 2014-05-06 12:03 (GMT+8)

The P-1, the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force's most advanced patrol aircraft. (Internet photo)

In the event of any potential confrontation with Chinese submarines in Japan's territorial waters, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will likely deploy the P-1 patrol aircraft designed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries to the disputed East China Sea according to the Tokyo-based Sankei Shimbun on May. 4.

The newspaper reported that China's most sophisticated sea research vessel, the Kexue, was conducting activities off the coast of Japan's exclusive economic zone on Kume island in Okinawa for half a month. Despite receiving warnings from Japanese coast guard vessels to leave, the Chinese ship remained until its mission was completed. For this reason, more countermeasures will be needed for Japan to confront any potential invasion of Chinese vessels into its territorial waters.

A source from the Japanese defense ministry told the paper that the submarine along with a destroyer of the People's Liberation Army Navy could eventually enter the Japanese exclusive economic zone or neighboring territorial waters in the same way the sea research vessel had. A Chinese nuclear-powered submarine was spotted for the first time in Japanese waters back in November 2004.

With a speed 1.3-times faster than the P-3C patrol plane, the P-1 designed domestically in Japan is the most suitable choice for anti-submarine warfare in the East China Sea, with a longer range than the P-3C purchased from the United States. When confronting Chinese warships, the P-1 is capable of attacking with air-to-surface missiles like the AGM-84 Harpoon, the ASM-1C, and the AGM-65 Maverick. Torpedoes, mines and depth charges are also carried by the aircraft to attack submarines.

Under the US-Japan security treaty, the P-1 can offer more of a threat to Chinese submarines in its waters when coordinated with the P-8 patrol aircraft of the US Navy. Six P-8 Poseidon were deployed to the Kadena Air Base in Okinawa in December. Chuck Hagel, the US secretary of defense, said the P-8 will be deployed to defend Japan's territorial waters in the event that Japan is attacked by a foreign aggressor.