Japan stealth jet prototype set to fly in 2014

AP ^ | 03/08/11 | ERIC TALMADGE

[TigerLikesRooster]

Japan stealth jet prototype set to fly in 2014

By ERIC TALMADGE, Associated Press

Tue Mar 8, 2:21 am ET

TOKYO – Japan is looking to join the United States, China and Russia with a stealth fighter that senior Japanese air force officials say can be ready for a prototype test flight in just three years, significantly upping the ante in the intensifying battle for air superiority in the Pacific.

The prototype will likely be able to fly in 2014, Lt. Gen. Hideyuki Yoshioka, director of air systems development at Japan's Ministry of Defense, said in an interview with The Associated Press.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Mitsubishi ATD-X Shinshin

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[MrInvisible]

Not entirely sure how I feel about this but it’s pretty cool looking.

[Army Air Corps]

Looks pretty cool.

[Joe 6-pack]

That is sweeeeeeet looking! Just a matter of time before Mitsubishi incorporates some of that styling into their cars ;-)

(Of course, their 3000GT used to be marketed as the Dodge Stealth)

[Ronin]

Way cool!!!

[The Cajun]

For some reason it kind of reminds me of a SR 71 in the first picture.

[Flag_This]

"Not entirely sure how I feel about this but it’s pretty cool looking."

I prefer it to a chinese version.

[TigerLikesRooster]

After looking through photos second time around, I am not sure 2nd and 3rd photos posted above are indeed Shinshin's.

However, this could be one(at least a model)

[PapaBear3625]

Stealth gives us an advantage when we can detect the enemy before the enemy can detect us. If our enemies are just as stealthy as us, then the F-20 has a problem.

[Billthedrill]

LOL! Yeah, the bottom pic has a rather prominent USAF decal on the left wingtip. Nice looking machine, though.

[allmost]

They need it.

[DTogo]

The question is, will it work, or is it another boondoggle of tax-payer patronage to a former Zaibatsu?

日本＊ピング＊ (kono risuto ni hairitai ka detai wo shirasete kudasai : let me know if you want on or off this list)

[Imnidiot]

Yeah, the third photo is a Raptor (F-22).
The first looks like a mockup. The second looks like a plastic model or computer model of something different than either of the other planes.

[GeronL]

looks familiar. lol

[ThunderSleeps]

For some reason it kind of reminds me of a SR 71 in the first picture.

I can see that too. Long nose, pronounced midline chine...

The second pic kind of reminds me of a B-2. I see a basic delta wing, with small outboard extensions. The outer wings are basically a swept-back plank, kind of reminds me of the B-2's outer wings.

I suppose it's no accident stealth planes sort of look alike or incorporate features/designs reminiscent of each other. There's only so many good ways to achieve the same goal(s), right?

[Flag_This]

"Yeah, the third photo is a Raptor (F-22). The first looks like a mockup. The second looks like a plastic model or computer model of something different than either of the other planes."

You're definitely right about the F-22. The other two may look different because of the extreme perspective of the second photo - they both have canards (?) up front.

[grey_whiskers]

I can just *see* Speed Racer jumping into the cockpit.

(Now, let's see if it can really do Mach 5!)

Cheers!

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Good, it appears Japan may have realized they are very much alone in a sea of sharks.

Eventually they might have powerful allies in the west again, but not so long as a (D) is sitting in the big chair.

The Japanese would be well served to renounce the military restricting parts of their constitution and begin building a real navy and air force. Someone is going to have to stand up to the chinese until the the fool running the show in washington is thrown out on his jug ear and the damage he has done to the armed forces is repaired.