The US military has been exploring the capabilities of Japan’s ShinMaywa US-2 amphibious aircraft through joint exercises aimed at enhancing maritime rescue operations and logistics support across dispersed island chains. Widely regarded as one of the most advanced amphibious aircraft in service, the US-2 is operated primarily by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).
Valued at approximately $160 million per aircraft, the US-2 is specifically designed to operate in challenging maritime environments that are beyond the capabilities of conventional fixed-wing aircraft. One of its most distinctive features is its ability to take off and land in open seas with wave heights reaching up to 3 meters (10 feet), a capability unmatched by any other operational seaplane.
The aircraft achieves exceptional Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) performance through a unique boundary-layer control system that uses a fifth turbine engine to direct airflow over the wings and flaps. This allows the aircraft to operate safely at speeds as low as 50 knots while minimizing stall risks.
Equipped with a modern glass cockpit, fly-by-wire controls, and a pressurized cabin, the US-2 combines advanced avionics with long-range operational capability. Powered by four Rolls-Royce AE2100 turboprop engines, it can exceed speeds of 300 knots and operate over distances of up to 2,800 nautical miles.
India and Japan spent more than a decade discussing a potential acquisition of the US-2, with the Indian Navy and Coast Guard expressing interest in 12 to 18 aircraft. The proposed deal was estimated to be worth between $1.35 billion and $1.65 billion.
If acquired, the aircraft would likely be based in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, providing India with enhanced maritime surveillance and rapid-response capabilities across the Bay of Bengal, the Malacca Strait, and parts of the South China Sea.
Although Japan reduced the aircraft’s proposed price to roughly $113 million per unit and suggested local production under India’s “Make in India” initiative through industrial partnerships such as the Mahindra Group, the agreement has yet to be finalized. The programme has faced repeated delays due to competing Indian Navy budget requirements and the complexities of the country’s defense procurement process.
