The Navy has been given the green light to investigate contracting a private fleet of amphibious aircraft to counter the growing capability of China in this niche. The War Zone came across confirmation of the plan in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed a couple of weeks ago. That may be behind the Navy’s interest in Japan’s US2 amphib, which it has been quietly testing. The Pentagon had been looking at equipping C-130s with floats to fill this role, but that program was quietly sunk a year ago. Fluctus has been keeping an eye on the development of the $160 million flying boat and prepared this video.
The NDAA provision comes as China is rapidly developing a range of amphibious capabilities including the massive turboprop AG600, which can carry more than 25,000 pounds over 4500 nautical miles. These planes will likely serve forward operating bases in contested areas of the South China Sea, which is a major source of irritation in the area. While China and Japan have been investing in amphibious capability, the Pentagon hasn’t progressed past the artist’s rendering stage for any of those types of programs. So far, the U.S. military seems to be focusing on ground-effect vehicles
Contracting to a commercial entity is the only realistic option for getting an amphibious fleet off the water. Outside of China and Russia, there are less than a handful of companies making amphibians, and the US-2 might fill the bill for the NDAA provision. It will haul more than 50,000 pounds and has STOL capabilities. The NDAA says it wants the Navy to get moving on the project “in a timely manner,” but if it doesn’t then the authority for the pilot program ends in three years.
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The only good that might come out of this is a replacement of the water tankers needed for fire fighting.
I wouldn’t call it the “only good”, but use as a fire bomber came to my mind, too.
at 160 million per unit, you will not see the aerial fire fighting industry seek this unless heavily subsidized by uncle sugar
Why not. Battleships, flying boats. Ive seen this behavior before. If the Soviets are seen to be developing crossbows, we have to develop crossbows.
Lots of water on this planet, not so many runways outside of the United States. Versatility and practicality that can bring supplies, emergent help, troops, waterborne rescue on short notice, yes firefighting as well. There’s lots of expertise out there from the Brits, Dutch, Germans, Grumman and now the Japanese and the Chinese. Ya, we need to get with it also.
A very large, relatively slow-moving target, with a large infrared signature, a very large radar cross section, a very large logistical signature, and a significant radio frequency signature is not a good idea for “… forward operating bases in contested areas of the South China Sea…”