Posted on 01/28/2016 5:10:07 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
NAGOYA, Japan—Japan on Thursday unveiled its first radar-evading stealth aircraft, aiming to close a gap with neighbors such as China and Russia, which have been flying fighter planes equipped with the technology for more than five years.
Confronted with regional challenges such as China building artificial islands in the South China Sea and North Korea testing nuclear devices, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has eased postwar restrictions on the country’s military and is trying to bolster its limited weapons-building capabilities.
In the latest move, the Ministry of Defense showed off a test aircraft called X-2 in a heavily guarded hangar at a factory here that is operated by Japan’s biggest military contractor, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. Ministry officials said the plane would perform its first test flight as early as mid-February.
At 14 meters (46-feet) in length, the ¥40 billion ($340 million) red and white-painted X-2 is smaller than a standard jet fighter. It is unarmed and its engines are underpowered. Analysts say it would take many years for Japan to develop it into an actual warplane.
But that may not be the point. Rather than aiming to build its own plane, they say, Japan may be signaling its hopes of joining the U.S. or other allies in developing a fighter through an international partnership—a way for allies to develop ever more expensive weapons systems. By joining the small club of countries that possess stealth technology, including the U.S., Russia and China, Japan can show that it brings something to the table.
“In order to participate in a project as an equal partner, Japan has to offer knowledge, experience or technologies worthy of an equal partner,†said aerospace analyst Yoshitomo Aoki.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
If they arm up to match China, East-Asia is going be to be very ugly.
I hope the Japanese do it someday - Gerwalk mode.
If they arm up to match China, East-Asia is going be to be very ugly.
I think it would end up being a “Pacific cold War” type scenario that eventually would go “hot” after 10-15 years..
The red and white paint is to protect the stealth coating underneath...
Winner!
Who will fly it?
Sex toy robots?
The Japanese are very capable and ultimately will build a very decent stealth aircraft if they have to.
Folks need to understand that this is more of a technology demonstrator than anything else. This particular aircraft is mean to test the airframe, avionics, and propulsion mainly.
The weapons, newer sensors, etc. will probably not be included or developed into this aircraft.
If they like it, and if they decide they need to proceed, they will move from this to a true prototype of a full-up combat aircraft.
As it is, this aircraft is scheduled to take its first flight next month, and then be handed over to their military for testing and evaluation along the lines I described sometime this spring.
Here’s a link to a video of it showing it a little more close up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNDzz8UV7FY
I am looking forward to its first flight.
Wasn’t Macross Island near Japan?
Props to you for the reference.
The Veri-Tech planes were cool but my favorite was the Cyclone motorcycle in the third series.
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