The Japanese company making the US-2 amphibious plane will continue its production of the search-and-rescue aircraft used by the Maritime Self-Defense Force, much to the relief of Defense Ministry officials.
Although the US-2 is the only aircraft in the world capable of landing on rough waves with a height of 3 meters, concerns were rising over the possibility that the aircraft production would be discontinued because new orders had been put off amid soaring production costs.
The ministry has sought ¥21.9 billion ($150 million) for the acquisition of one US-2 aircraft in its fiscal 2025 budget request.
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