Japan retires first US-2

On the last day of July 2024, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ferried its first ShinMaywa US-2 STOL amphibious aircraft 9901 to its place of birth, ShinMaywa's Konan plant in Kobe. The amphibious aircraft was accompanied by US-2 9907 of 71 Kokutai for returning the crew of 9901 to Iwakuni. Why 9901 was withdrawn at Konan is for the moment unknown. In a ceremony on 7 August 2024 at Konan, the 9901 was officially retired and stricken off.

During the 1990s, the JMSDF asked for funds to find a successor for the aging US-1A fleet but the budget obtained was not enough for the development of an entirely new aircraft. Therefore ShinMaywa started a project to upgrade and modernise the US-1A, referred to as US-1A Kai. New engines, electronic cockpit instruments and a pressurised hull were the main upgrades.

US-1A Kai 9901 made its first flight in the red/white prototype colours on 18 December 2003 and was later renamed XUS-2, and after initial testing was finished as a US-2. A number of foreign countries expressed interest in procuring the US-2, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Greece, but to date no contracts have been signed.

At the moment eight US-2s have been built, one was sadly lost when it was damaged and sank on 28 April 2015. We believe the US-2 is still in very slow rate production. The JMSDF probably needs six US-2s for its operations, one in overhaul at ShinMaywa and five operational. So before the retirement of a second US-2 we wil see the roll-out of number nine.

Credit photo: JMSDF