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In 1966, the JMSDF awarded
Shin Maywa company a contract to develop a large STOL aircraft for
anti-submarine warfare and air-sea rescue work respectively. Two
prototypes were built under designation PS-X and flight tests began in
October 1967, leading to an order for PS-1 ASW production. The PS-1 had
not been in service long before the JMSDF requested the development of a
search-and-rescue variant. The new US-1A converted quickly for the new
variant. First flown in 1974, it was accepted into service and eventually
19 aircrafts were purchased. With the US-1A fleet beginning to show its
age, the JMSDF attempted to obtain funding for a replacement in the 1990s,
but could not obtain enough to develop an entirely new aircraft.
Therefore, in 1995, ShinMaywa began plans for an upgraded version of the
US-1A, the US-1A kai.
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