On 21st and 22nd April and 2nd and 3rd May 2018, Sigonella Airport hosted and supported a Japanese military delegation, which arrived in the  Sicilian airbase with two P-1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
That in Sicily was one of the world steps that the Japanese government has chosen to navigate the globe eastbound to test the potential of its P-1 maritime patrol aircraft. A similar deployment was already made in July 2015.
The Kawasaki P-1 aircraft is a jet patrol aircraft, designed and built by the aeronautical division of the Japanese company Kawasaki Heavy Industries, driven by 4 IHI XF7-10 dual-flow turbojets. The history of the P-1 begins in 2001, when Kawasaki started the program of study and development of a new oceanic jet patrol aimed at the difficult task of replacing an excellent machine in its role: veteran Lockheed P-3 Orion. The Japanese company presented the prototype of the P-1 in 2007. In the same year was the first flight.
In Sigonella, the Japanese military delegation has benefited from the support and assistance necessary for the two P-1 transiting aircraft to continue their navigation to the next destinations. After visiting the Nipponic aircraft, foreign personnel were greeted by the Air Force Inspector for the Navy, Air Brtigade General Amedeo MAGNANI, and the Commander of the 41st Wing and Sigonella Airport, Colonel (Pil) Francesco FRARE.
Before leaving Sigonella, the commander of the Japanese expedition, Frigate Captain Masahide ITO, held to thank for the welcome and hospitality received in Italy and in particular by AM staff.
All activities were overseen and coordinated by Vessel Captain Takashi NARA, Defense Officer at the Japanese Embassy in Rome. The same has expressed satisfaction and gratitude to the Italian Government for availability.