Some info from wiki on the C-2,
The Kawasaki C-2 is a long range twin-engine transport aircraft. In comparison with the older C-1 that it replaces, the C-2 can carry payloads up to four times heavier, such as MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries and Mitsubishi H-60 helicopters, and possesses six times the range.
The C-2 is being developed to meet the following requirements of the Ministry of Defense: a minimum payload of 26 tonnes, 120 metric ton (264,552 lb 132.275 short ton) take-off weight, ability to takeoff/land on short runways, (Requirement: 500m, almost same as C-1, e.g. Tachikawa—900 m, Kamigoto—800 m, Hateruma—800 m), a maximum payload of 37,600 kg whilst taking off from a 2,300 m Take-off Field Length at a 141 tonnes (310,851 lb 155.42 short ton) take-off weight, ability to fly international airroutes (Requirement: Mach 0.8+; JDA ruled out C-17 as a candidate by its lower cruising speed.
Conventional cargo aircraft cannot cruise at optimum altitude on commercial airroutes because of their lower cruising speed and are often assigned to lower altitude by ATC., in-flight aerial refuelling and forward looking infrared systems.
The C-2 is powered by a pair of General Electric CF6-80C2K turbofan engines. While sharing fuselage components with the Kawasaki P-1, the fuselage of the C-2's is substantially larger to accommodate a vast internal cargo deck, which is furnished with an automated loading/unloading system to reduce workloads on personnel and ground equipment. The forward fuselage and horizontal stabilizer is made of an internally-designedcomposite material, KMS6115. A tactical flight management system and head-up display is installed to reduce the challenges involved in flying at low altitudes or close to mountainous terrain. The C-2 is equipped with a fullglass cockpit, fly-by-wire flight controls, a high-precision navigation system, and self protection systems
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawasaki_C-2
The C-2 is obviously being funded and acquired by Japan and we know that the aircraft is currently five years behind schedule. Aalthough the JSDF has requested 10 aircraft in the 2014-2018 period the Japanese Government has only funded seven.
While the fiscal 2014-18 procurement plan calls for 10 C-2 transport planes, contractor Kawasaki Heavy Industries is running about five years behind schedule. Funds have been budgeted for only seven of the planes so far. A dearth of C-2s, used to carry combat vehicles and midsize helicopters in addition to personnel, could hinder Japan's efforts to defend outlying islands and respond to disasters.
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Econom ... nderfunded
Kawasaki has offered a commercial C-2 but so far this has yet to garner any interest.
We also know the C-2 has started appearing in international sales campaigns including a visit to NZ.
Japan’s air force said on Friday it will send its new C-2 long-range heavy lift military cargo plane overseas for the first time to show it off to potential buyers in the Middle East and New Zealand.
Built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, the C-2 will fly to the United Arab Emirates on Nov. 8 to participate in the Dubai Airshow and will be on display in New Zealand from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1, the Japan Air Self Defence Force said in a news release.
A C-2 sale would secure Japan its first major overseas arms contract.
“A number of nations have shown interest in the C-2 and we want to show off our advanced technology,” Japan’s Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera told a regular media briefing.
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-japan ... KKBN1CB0CB
Finally there is the below report on a new variant of the C-2
Images reveal progress on Japan’s C-2 intelligence-gathering variant
The test bed of Japan’s intelligence gathering version of the Kawasaki C-2 airlifter has broken cover, with photographs emerging of the aircraft undergoing taxi tests.
The photo, taken Tuesday at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force base at Gifu, shows a C-2 with enlarged fairings on the nose, tail, top and sides of the rear fuselage. According to documents released by Japanese Defense Ministry’s acquisition agency, the aircraft variant will have an electronic intelligence/communications intelligence suite.
https://www.defensenews.com/digital-sho ... g-variant/
An image from twitter can be seen here,
https://twitter.com/Gifu119V3/status/96 ... variant%2F
I’m surprised Japan is pursuing a C-2 variant for EW/ISR, I would have thought the P-1 was a better platform for this type of work, or even modify a 767 given they already have of number of that aircraft in their fleet.