Tokyo, Seoul Mull Advanced Fighters

Japan’s defense ministry sees a sixth-generation manned fighter with counter-stealth capability for the 2030s, while South Korea is trying to form a consortium of developing countries to field an affordable fighter in the 2020s, positioning it between the Lockheed Martin F-16 and F-35.

The Japanese sixth-generation fighter concept, called i3 (informed, intelligent and instantaneous), has seven features that the defense ministry regard as crucial for the fighter to be effective against potential opponents, according to the ministry’s Future Fighter Research & Development Vision, released on Aug. 25.

One feature, jamming-resistant fly-by-light controls, has been introduced in the Kawasaki P-1 maritime patroller, which first flew in 2007. The ministry believes four more features could be ready by 2030:

•Greater stealth than that of opponents, requiring developments in coatings, internal weapon bays and intake design.

•Next-generation high-power radar that detects and tracks stealthy targets, requiring development of advanced integrated sensors and all-around protection.

•Cloud-shooting, in which the fighters fire missiles using targeting data from other sources—for example, each other and early-warning aircraft.

•A powerful next-generation engine with a slim cross-section and heat-resistant turbine discs and ceramic nozzle.

The engine, radar and stealth technologies are in development and should be ready in 2016-20. The Mitsubishi ATD-X fighter technology demonstrator that will fly for the first time in 2014 will be the testing platform.

The next two technologies would be ready in the 2040s: networking with sensor drones that fly ahead of the manned fighters, helping them remain undetected while detecting stealthy targets; and a directed-energy weapon, based on research that would begin next year, focusing on lasers and high-power microwaves.

Cloud-shooting is similar in concept to the silent attack tactics of the Saab Gripen, in which four aircraft flying together share targeting data, allowing one or two to shoot without turning on their radars. The Eurofighter Typhoon demonstrated third-party targeting capability in 2009, but the shooter’s radar had to provide mid-course updates to the missile.

The Japanese concept may allow mid-course updates to the missile from another friendly source. It envisions unarmed sensor drones controlled by manned fighters in the air-defense mission, unlike some European concepts, in which the manned fighters would control combat drones conducting strike missions.

The ministry summarizes its philosophy behind cloud shooting thus: “Once one side locks on and shoots, there will always be a hit.”

The ministry is ambiguous about planning, but expects that full-scale development of the i3 fighter would begin in 2021 after a decade of predevelopment of the first batch of key technologies. The aircraft, if developed, would enter service in the 2030s, replacing the Mitsubishi F-2, which was fielded in 2000. The estimated development cost of the i3 is ¥500-800 billion ($5.9-9.5 billion).

Japan’s F-2, an F-16 derivative developed with the U.S. for ¥376.6 billion, could provide a model for South Korea’s KF-X project, which aims to develop an affordable fighter with Western technological assistance and up to 40% cost-sharing by developing countries that wish to foster their aerospace industries.

The KF-X is to have capabilities between the fourth-generation F-16 and fifth-generation F-35, says Dae-yeol Lee, head of air systems development at the government’s defense development agency. KF-X would have two options: an adaptation of an existing design, following the F-2 model; or a clean-sheet design, the approach Taiwan adopted with its Ching Kuo aircraft in the 1980s.

If the KF-X follows the F-2 model, it could end up as a modified version of a U.S. or European fighter, such as the Boeing F/A-18 or Eurofighter Typhoon. South Korean companies would prefer a new design, but the country was unwilling to go that far with a utility helicopter, let alone a 4.5-generation fighter. The Korean Utility Helicopter was conceived as a new and independent design but eventually developed with advice from Eurocopter, using the configuration of the Cougar.

The first country interested in joining the KF-X program is Indonesia, whose defense ministry signed a memorandum of understanding on July 15, saying it would pay 20% of development costs and buy 50 aircraft. Turkey is being courted to take 20% of the development program.

Whether South Korea’s attempt to create and lead a joint development program succeeds will hinge upon the KF-X’s concept definition, to be carried out in 2011-12.

Interesting.

I wonder if this has anything to do with how the US is treating Israel right now. Seoul and Tokyo have to wonder if we would be there for them in a crisis, so they are thinking ahead how to protect themselves in the future.

I wonder how realistic this is.

I have a feeling that the F-22 will be the most advanced manned fighter in the world ... EVER

Despite Russian claims to the contrary, the next TRUE step up will be unmanned jets.

At the rate unmanned fighter jet technologies are advancing, the 6th generation fighter will be unmanned

That is my 2 cents

“At the rate unmanned fighter jet technologies are advancing, the 6th generation fighter will be unmanned.”

The problem is simple physics. The F22 has maxed out the boundaries of human endurance. The human in the jet becomes the weakest link. No point on building another manned aircraft.

In 20 years the air war will be fought from the pilots livingroom.

IIRC, the pilot was the weakest link even in the F-16. I do agree that the next gen in aircraft will be unmanned. It not only follows the technology advancement trend, but it also follows the “safety of our warfighters” trend...

At the rate unmanned fighter jet technologies are advancing, the 6th generation fighter will be unmanned

It is possible. There are some technological developments out there that may cause that or may cause the opposite. It remains to be seen now well directed energy weapons and advanced missiles perform or how the newest generations of jamming systems stack up. At this point it could still go various ways.

For example. Lets say that directed energy weapons take a leap and make dogfighting' obsolete. If you can't dodge the beam then it makes more sense to stay far away from it (due to the inverse square law). That sort of trend MIGHT make air dominance fighters into larger and faster aircraft to stay from from things while still sending missiles after them or carrying larger DE weapons than their enemies. In that case the pilot is less of a liability because you are not doing as much maneuvering.

I am not saying that is the way it will go but I am offering it as an example of why manned fighter aircraft might still be around. It is hard to say. Sometimes the handwriting on the wall is misleading. Like when they tried to stop putting cannons on fighters back in the 60's.

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