That is one mean-ass looking plane.
If it is Japanese, don’t be surprised if it has leapfrogged the king of skies, the US F22 which has decades old technology.
Visibility to the rear probably isn't too great, but I don't think it is intended to dogfight. Probably mission parameters are: you never see it coming.
Agreed. Looks pretty sweet.
“That is one mean-ass looking plane.”
It is. But keep in mind that it is still just a flying prototype. It will not have a full electronics package (no airborne radar) and no weapons. Prototypes often fly with an engine other than the one that is intended to prove the aerodynamics and gather flight data. We’ve seen projects where the intended engine never arrives at all. Performance targets usually don’t get met when the thrust isn’t there.
There’s a lot of criticism on this forum for the F-35. Keep in mind that whatever the potential for this new Japanese prototype fighter, it’s still just a prototype early in it’s design curve.
Projects like this can take a decade to move from this point to squadron service. Look no further than the Indian experience with their indigenous light-weight fighter/trainer, the Tejas.
I’d like to see them build Valkyries and Alphas.