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 Britain has not formally decided it will buy new maritime patrol
planes, having canceled an order for nine built by BAE Systems in
2010 due to delays and cost over-runs, and the P-1, made by Kawasaki
Heavy Industries, would face stiff competition from Boeing's P-8
Poseidon, the three sources told Reuters.
Japanese officials raised the issue of London buying the P-1 to
replace the British-made Hawker Siddeley Nimrod, which was retired
in 2011, when they met their UK counterparts to discuss
defense-equipment cooperation at the Farnborough Air Show near
London in July, the sources said.
After Abe eased curbs on military exports in April, his Defense
Ministry has been looking to tap foreign markets for its cocooned
weapons makers, including potential deals to sell subs to Australia
and seaplanes to India. A P-1 sale to Britain would be Japan's first
major military deal outside the Asia-Pacific region.
Abe wants Japan's defense suppliers to move into the global arms
market through tie-ups that will help bring down procurement costs
and strengthen the nation's military to counter China's growing
military might.
 Even if Britain doesn't buy, the P-1 could benefit from being
treated as a genuine contender.
"If the UK gives it serious consideration, then the P-1 will garner
attention internationally," one Japanese source said.
"It has potential customers beyond the UK, like New Zealand, Norway
and Canada, with large maritime areas," said UK consultant Simon
Chelton, a former BAE Systems Plc executive and defense attache at
the British Embassy in Tokyo.
"We are considering a number of options in regard to defense
equipment sales, but we don't comment on specific deals," said
Japanese Defense Ministry's spokesman Hirofumi Takeda.
“We are not aware of the discussion so we can’t comment,” said
Teppei Kobayashi, a spokesman for Kawasaki Heavy. "In general it is
a matter of national policy, so if there is a decision that results
in an order, we will follow that."
Britain's Ministry of Defense was not immediately able to comment.
STRATEGIC DIALOGUE
Senior Japanese and UK officials will have a chance to discuss the
idea on Monday at a strategic dialogue in London organized by
independent British and Japanese think-tanks.
[to top of second column] |
The P-1, designed to patrol Japan's territorial waters from the
Pacific to the East China Sea, where Beijing claims small islands
held by Tokyo, will be the country's principal sub hunter for
decades to come.
Japan's navy plans to buy around 20, costing about 20 billion yen
($170 million) each, over the next five years, though cracks in the
fuselage and wing and engine problems have delayed its entry into
service. No announcement from Britain of any replacement for the
Nimrod, which tracked Soviet undersea activity during the Cold War,
is expected before May's general election.
Its least risky option could be the Boeing P-8, already built and
operated by the United States, the closest ally to both Britain and
Japan, the sources said. Deployed by the U.S. Navy last year, the
first squadron armed with torpedoes and anti-ship missiles operates
from Okinawa in southwestern Japan near China.
Boeing officials in Tokyo were unavailable for comment.
In its most recent order in February, the U.S. Navy said it would
buy 16 additional P-8s at a cost of $150 million each.
If Japan can offer a P-1 variant tailored for the British military
that is competitive on price and capability, it could represent a
viable alternative.
Jointly building a P-1 that taps into Britain's experience building
the Nimrod would allow London to retain rights over radar and
sensing technology it would lose by buying a U.S. aircraft regulated
by the Pentagon, one source said.
Last year Japan and Britain agreed on a deal that will see
Mitsubishi Electric Corp partner with European missile maker MBDA to
develop a medium-range air-to-air missile for the F-35 stealth
fighter, which both countries plan to deploy.
($1 = 118.6400 yen)
(Additional reporting by William James; Editing by Will Waterman)
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