The new aircraft EC-2 Stand-Off Jammer (SOJ), based on the transport aircraft Kawasaki C-2was recently spotted at Gifu Air Base, Japan.
According to the website’s report The Aviationistthe image was taken by Mel Amahashi last Tuesday (17). In the photo, the aircraft EC-2 appears in the distance, while a maritime patrol plane Kawasaki P-1 is seen taking off.
The new platform is derived from the transport aircraft C-2 and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI). As can be seen in the image, the aircraft was modified to have a bulbous nose, similar to that of the EC-1.
The aircraft also has two large protrusions in the upper part of the fuselage, while two others should be located on the sides of the fuselage, between the wings and the horizontal stabilizers.
It is worth noting that another C-2o 18-1202was previously modified with similar but smaller protrusions for the signals intelligence (SIGINT) role, and made its first flight in 2018 under the new designation RC-2.
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Until now, the secret aircraft has only been shown in a rendering shared by the Japanese Ministry of Defense. So these are the first photos of the real aircraft.
Previously, Japan’s Ministry of Defense stated that the aircraft will be used to support aerial counterattack operations in conjunction with other tactical assets.
According to the The Aviationisto EC-2 Stand-Off Jammer (SOJ) is being developed to disrupt an adversary’s electronic warfare (EW) capabilities by flying even outside the range of the threat. The aircraft will replace the EC-1which has been in service since 1986.
Of course
Sentangijisetsu pic.twitter.com/6MHgrxGTql— Mel Amanahashi (@CirqueduCiel) February 17, 2026
Photos: X @CirqueduCiel. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
