A model of the prototype fighter jet under development (Hiroaki Kimura)
Posted on 03/29/2012 12:49:18 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Assembly starts on Japan's next-generation fighter jet
Work started on March 28 on a prototype of the nation's next-generation fighter jet, which will be produced entirely in Japan.
The project, ordered by the Defense Ministry, is being carried out at a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. plant in Aichi Prefecture.
Mitsubishi Heavy is producing the fuselage and is in charge of overall assembly. IHI Corp. is building the engine, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. is manufacturing the wings, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. is responsible for cockpit equipment.
The Defense Ministry plans to have the prototype, equipped with stealth and other state-of-the-art technologies, airborne in 2014.
“Our ultimate goal is to build a fighter made entirely in Japan,” Takashi Kobayashi, general manager of Mitsubishi’s Aerospace Systems operational headquarters, said at the opening ceremony. “This is the first step on the rough road.”
Japan is competing with neighboring China and Russia, which are pushing the development of their next-generation fighters.
By HIROAKI KIMURA/ Staff Writer
A model of the prototype fighter jet under development (Hiroaki Kimura)
Is Mitsubishi going to name it after our president?
The Mitsubishi Zero, sorta has a nice ring to it...
Asahi Shimbun is one of the top newspapers in Japan.....and Asahi beer is one of the top thirst quenchers.
If the Chinese get to have N.Korea as their problem child, I say we loosen the leash on Japan. =P
Looks like an F-22 Raptor.
Looks a lot like an F-15
ping
Quite an interesting bird. Thanks for the ping!
Basically what happens if you build an F-15 Stealth Eagle from the ground up to make it more stealthy. It will not be at Raptor level, but it should be better than the Stealth Eagle.
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