Japan to procure another MCH-101 helicopter in 2022

The Japanese government is procuring another MCH-101 airborne mine countermeasures (AMCM)-capable helicopter for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

The procurement has been highlighted as one of the main projects for fiscal year (FY) 2022 in the Japanese Ministry of Defense’s annual White Paper, Defense of Japan 2022. The publication has listed a projected expenditure of JPY7.3 billion (USD53.4 million) for the procurement.

The MCH-101 AMCM helicopter is derived from the Leonardo AW101 utility helicopter and fitted with Japanese-developed mine countermeasures (MCM) mission management system. The aircraft is licence-built in Japan by Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI).

The aircraft has an overall length of 22.8 m, an overall height of 6.7 m, and a rotor diameter of 18.6 m. Its rotors can be folded for ease of stowage in the hangar of naval vessels.

Powered by GE CT7-8E turboshaft engines, the helicopter has a maximum cruise speed of 150 kt, and its maximum rate of climb is at 1,880 ft per minute.