Japan has officially begun military flight testing of its new EC-2 stand-off electronic warfare aircraft, marking a key milestone in the country’s effort to field a dedicated airborne electronic attack capability.
The Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) on July 15 transferred the XEC-2 prototype to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s Air Development and Test Wing at Gifu Air Base, where the aircraft will undergo operational evaluation following its first flight in March.
令和８年７月１５日、防衛装備庁で開発しているスタンドオフ電子戦機（ＸＥＣ－２）の飛行試験をスタートしました。引き続き各種試験を安全かつ確実に進めていきます。 pic.twitter.com/bfDcW3KxEn
— 防衛装備庁 (@atla_kouhou_jp) July 17, 2026
Based on the Kawasaki C-2 military transport aircraft, the XEC-2 is designed to detect, identify and jam hostile radar and communications systems while operating at stand-off ranges outside the reach of enemy air defenses. The platform is expected to become Japan’s first operational electronic attack aircraft after qualification, replacing the aging single-aircraft EC-1 fleet.
The flight-test campaign will evaluate aircraft performance, mission system reliability, electromagnetic compatibility and operational suitability, while establishing flight limits, maintenance requirements and operational procedures. Engineers will also assess how the aircraft’s electronic warfare equipment affects handling, endurance and overall flight performance.
Japan plans to acquire four EC-2 aircraft, providing sufficient capacity for operational deployments, training, maintenance and testing. The XEC-2 prototype was converted from the first production Kawasaki C-2 rather than being built as a new aircraft.
The C-2 transport aircraft, manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, was selected for the program because its larger airframe provides significantly greater payload, electrical power generation and cooling capacity than the retired Kawasaki C-1 platform, enabling it to support advanced electronic warfare systems.