A prototype of the first Japan-made stealth fighter is shown to the media Thursday at a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. factory in Aichi Prefecture. | KYODO
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 ...
A prototype of the first Japan-made stealth fighter is shown to the media Thursday at a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. factory in Aichi Prefecture. | KYODO
I can see it......
Looks like it has 12” wheels, like the early Honda cars.
Stealth?
What that design?
Pft. . .
I don’t believe for a moment Japan cannot build an aircraft light years ahead of everyone, be it propulsion, stealth or offensive weapons.
although the heritage was called 0, this will be called 1
and it gets 65 mpg!........
Looks more like a trainer. With all the curves, stealth will be hard to achieve.
This is Japan, after all.
For a real fact, we don’t know that they don’t actually have such a plan and it is secret
The red paint stands out
I agree with you on that. Would not be surprised to find out factually they have capabilities more achieved of a sci fi nature.
Like full visual stealth, full fuselage optics, known fact.
Airborne rail cannon, possible.
Anti aircraft or air to air laser, possible.
Suborbitol, possible.
Autononous or remote, possible.
lol...exactly.
They would make a working Alpha or Veri-Tech fighter if anyone could.
Going back and looking at historical aviation trends i would predict Japan has a massive drone air force, flying missiles, missile drones, drones with varying degrees of stealth, size and offensive weapons, imagine 50,000 solar powered drones all capable of 24 hour flight following a jet stream across the pacific, each with an incendiary.
They used rice balloons back then...
But....since they are allies for the most part....
Anyway about it Japan can build the best smallest high tech devices. China can build more but of a lesser quality, an alien term to them.
If i were Donald Trump i would immediately try to join military tech with Japan, they own the game.
It’s the Kei Car version for domestic use.
Japan’s going to have a robotic plane with a cloaking device, then send a message to China: “All your base are belong to us”.
Ping
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