Defence Japan’s new electronic warfare aircraft takes maiden flight

It's been called "the world's ugliest aircraft," but I find it rather cute.

Japan's new electronic warfare aircraft, developed from a Kawasaki C-2 transport plane, carried out its maiden flight this week. The EC-2 took off from Gifu Air Base on 17 March and will enter service in March 2027. The aircraft is based on the C-2 tactical airlifter, a twin-jet platform comparable in size to the Airbus A400M.


The JASDF said work will continue to bring the aircraft into service, with a focus on strengthening electromagnetic-domain capabilities and supporting cross-domain operations. Once operational, the EC-2 is expected to join the Electronic Warfare Operations Group at Iruma Air Base, east of Tokyo. The defence budget for the previous year allocated ¥41.4 billion, or about $262 million, for the programme. The aircraft itself is a conversion of the first production C-2 delivered to the JASDF.

While the aircraft is not expected to win any beauty competition – with its bulbous nose resembling a platypus, two tandem dorsal humps, and protruding lateral fairings – it performs an important mission: disrupting and neutralising enemy radar and communication systems on the ground and in the air from a safe distance. Specialised equipment includes jamming technology, electronic countermeasures, electronic support measures and satellite communications. This equipment was developed domestically, including the upgraded J/ALQ-5 jamming system.

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It's especially cute in that first picture if you view the red obscured engine as if it's a tongue coming out of the "face" at the front.

Our dog used to sleep with the tip of his tongue out.

The amount of electronics in these planes is unbelievable. I think there must be thousands of miles of wires installed and the workers who do it are wizards. I find it interesting they used the EC title. When I was in during the early 70's , our spy planes were the EC-121.