Japanese MoD to choose commercial platform for Huey replacement
Kosuke Takahashi, Tokyo - IHS Jane's Defence Industry
29 April 2014
The Japanese Ministry of Defence (MoD) plans to purchase modified commercial helicopters to fulfil its cancelled UH-X multipurpose helicopter requirement, local media has claimed.
The Nikkei newspaper reported on 29 April that the MoD is set to modify a yet-to-be-chosen civil platform with identification friend or foe (IFF) systems and radar equipment.
It plans to buy around 150 UH-X utility helicopters as a successor to the Bell/Fuji UH-1J Huey that is in service with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF).
The MoD scrapped the UH-X next-generation utility helicopter development programme in March 2013 after two JGSDF officers were convicted of illegally helping Kawasaki Heavy Industries win the contract to develop the helicopter.
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