ShinMaywa US-2
The ShinMaywa US-2 is a four-engine amphibious aircraft of the Japanese manufacturer ShinMaywa (ex Shin Meiwa) with short takeoff and landing capabilities, designed for rescue missions. The aircraft, that succeeds the Shin Meiwa US-1, made its first flight December 18, 2003.
This aircraft performs short takeoffs and landings thanks to a boundary layer control system, driven by a LHTEC CTS-800-4K (Rolls-Royce & Honeywell) 1,015 kW turbine. On water and at maximum takeoff weight, the aircraft needs 280m for liftoff and only 330m for landing. On land at full load (47.7 t), takeoff requires a 490 m run, and 1,500 m for landing. The hull configuration allows landings in waves up to 3 m deep.
Development
The project development started in 1996 under the designation "US-1A Kai" as a modernization of the previous US-1 of 1966. The ShinMaywa Industries Company was chosen as prime contractor in October 1996, and the engineering team (US modification Engineering Team - USMET) formed from a collaboration between Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the Nippi Corporation. The specifications asked for significant control improvements during takeoffs and landings, an interior dedicated to maximum patient comfort, and increased range to expand rescue capabilities. These constraints required such modifications that studies would ultimately lead to a new airplane. The efforts concentrated primarily to reduce the mass as much as possible and each structural detail would be the subject of careful optimizations. The number 1 prototype was inaugurated (on the ground) in April 2003 and began its first flight in December of the same year. Two evaluation prototypes were delivered to the Ministry of Defense in late 2004 and delivery of the first operational versions started in March 2007 under the US-2 designation.
Each turboprop drives a Dowty Rotol R414 6-blade propeller. An "Ocean Master 100" search radar developed by the French Thales is mounted in the nose.
Modularity
The aircraft can receive installations on demand, to be transformed into an amphibious fire fighting aircraft (15 t of water loaded in 20 seconds) or certified transport aircraft with a capacity of up to up to 38 passengers.
Users
The Maritime Self-Defense Force of Japan, from the air bases of Iwakuni and Atsugi.
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