Why Japan’s Navy Uses The TC-90/LC-90 Beechcraft King Air?

TC-90: Training Aircraft

The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) operates an impressive fleet of patrol planes and helicopters, thereby requiring intense pilot training as well as a good trainer aircraft.

For this purpose, JMSDF has been using the “TC-90” or the American Beechcraft King Air, and 30 units are currently used at the 202nd Naval Air Training Squadron (Tokushima Prefecture).

• General Overview

Any naval aviator in JMSDF will first undergo two years of education as a cadet at  the Ozuki Air Base in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

After graduating this rigid training course, they move on to acquire basic flight techniques by flying the T-5 trainer. The TC-90 comes into play after the cadets graduate the T-5, as it is much larger and requires more skills.

Procurement of this twin turboprop plane began in 1974, with additional purchase to replace the aging units.

Although there is not much difference between the early and latest models in terms of performance, the cockpit instruments and navigation systems have been upgraded to ensure better usability.

Originally built as a business-type utility craft, the TC-90 boasts excellent maneuverability and stability, making it well-suited for flight training.

It can carry up to five people and is even equipped with a bathroom, allowing for continuous flights with multiple students on board.

Cadets will train on the TC-90 for at least six months, during which they are rigorously trained by their instructors, all done to pass the final exam and obtain their pilot’s license.

LC-90: Transports

In addition to the TC-90 used for training, JMSDF operates a different variant called the “LC-90.”

This is used to transport personnel and some supplies, serving as a liaison airplane for base-to-base communication.

Six of these planes were introduced, and while they were initially distributed across the five main air bases, all have now been consolidated at Atsugi Air Base (Kanagawa Prefecture).

While these are often used to transport high-ranking officers, its existence is in doubt since other aircraft can easily substitute the role. As the navy cannot afford to allocate any personnel to redundant or unnecessary units, the LC-90s are likely to be phased out in the near future.

TC-90s To The Philippines

On the other hand, JMSDF will probably keep operating its TC-90 trainers, as long as human pilots are required for flying aircrafts.

But, the aging TC-90s will gradually be replaced by newer models, albeit their fate will be different than previous ones which were just scrapped.

Five of these used TC-90s have been provided to the Philippine Navy instead, in order to reinforce the Philippine’s maritime security capacity.

It is no secret that Japan and the Philippines are moving towards a semi-alliance, with the shift accelerating in recent years thanks to the increasing Chinese aggression.

The more China bullies its Filipino neighbors, the more Japan will be convinced to step in and commit more.

Already, Tokyo has delivered brand new patrol ships to the Filipino coast guard and installed air defense radars at certain locations.

The transfer of old TC-90s are part of such effort in boosting Manila’s capabilities, though the initial item on the wishlist was the P-3C patrol plane.

But, the P-3Cs were projected to take more training time as well as more maintenance cost. Therefore, the simpler and more affordable TC-90s were chosen for the first batch of airplanes.

Although the TC-90 does not have any anti-submarine capabilities and relies on visual surveillance, it has increased the Filipino Navy’s operational range by two fold, making sure they can cover the disputed South China Sea.

There are some room for modifications though, as the rear of the aircraft can be fitted with a surveillance radar.

As such, despite being a relatively unfamiliar aircraft, the TC-90 has become the first piece of Japanese military equipment to be provided to foreign country.