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Japan's X-2 stealth fighter jet takes to the skies: $332 million prototype
MAILONLINE ^ | 22 April 2016 | VICTORIA WOOLLASTON

Posted on 04/22/2016 4:22:12 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki

Japan's first stealth fighter jet has successfully taken to the skies as the country joins a select group of world military powers wielding the radar-dodging technology.

The X-2 jet took off from Nagoya airport in central Japan on its maiden test flight as dozens of aviation enthusiasts watching the event erupted in applause as it lifted off.

The single-pilot prototype safely landed at Gifu air base, north of Nagoya airport, after a 25-minute flight with 'no particular problems,' said an official at the defence ministry's acquisition agency.

The X-2 jet took off from Nagoya airport in central Japan on its maiden test flight as dozens of aviation enthusiasts watching the event erupted in applause as it lifted off. The single-pilot prototype safely landed at Gifu air base, north of Nagoya airport, after a 25-minute flight with 'no particular problems'

The red and white aircraft was escorted by two Japanese military fighters collecting flight data.

Despite strict constitutional constraints on the use of military force imposed after World War II, Japan has become one of the world's most advanced defense forces.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3553236/Japan-succeeds-test-flight-stealth-fighter-jet.html#ixzz46YNlbwS6 Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Japan; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aerospace; china; japan; pyongyang; republicofkorea; stealth; taiwan
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The red and white aircraft was escorted by two Japanese military fighters collecting flight data. It was built as a successor to F-2 fighter jets developed jointly with the US. Japan began the project in 2009 and has reportedly spent about 39.4 billion yen ($332 million) to develop the aircraft

JAPAN'S X-2 STEALTH JET The X-2 was developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and 200 other firms. It measures 47ft-long (14.2 metres) and 30ft-wide (9.1 metres) wide. The red and white aircraft was built as a successor to F-2 fighter jets developed jointly with the US. Japan began the project in 2009 and has reportedly spent about 39.4 billion yen ($332 million) to develop the aircraft.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3553236/Japan-succeeds-test-flight-stealth-fighter-jet.html#ixzz46YO2DKrv Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

1 posted on 04/22/2016 4:22:13 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
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To: sukhoi-30mki

Thanks...I always enjoy your informative posts


2 posted on 04/22/2016 4:29:02 AM PDT by deks
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To: sukhoi-30mki

It might be stealth . . . but I still can see it. What’s up with that?


3 posted on 04/22/2016 4:43:25 AM PDT by oldplayer
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To: sukhoi-30mki

332 million dollars to develop?

That wouldnt buy a tire on the f35.


4 posted on 04/22/2016 4:44:11 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: oldplayer

The Mitsubishi Zero-Sen was a stealth fighter.

Because on December 7th, 1941 we sure didn’t see that one coming!


5 posted on 04/22/2016 4:47:21 AM PDT by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam. Buy ammo.")
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To: deks

Me too.


6 posted on 04/22/2016 4:48:16 AM PDT by wally_bert (I didn't get where I am today by selling ice cream tasting of bookends, pumice stone & West Germany)
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To: sukhoi-30mki

Is this an all-up design or a technology demonstrator?

CC


7 posted on 04/22/2016 4:48:26 AM PDT by Celtic Conservative (CC: purveyor of cryptic, snarky posts since December, 2000..)
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To: elcid1970

A baby step towards the Valkyrie and Veri-Tech Alpha.


8 posted on 04/22/2016 4:49:20 AM PDT by wally_bert (I didn't get where I am today by selling ice cream tasting of bookends, pumice stone & West Germany)
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To: elcid1970

Actually we did see them coming. But army headquarters blew off the signal corps report of incoming craft as a flight of B-17’s coming in from Midway.

CC


9 posted on 04/22/2016 4:51:23 AM PDT by Celtic Conservative (CC: purveyor of cryptic, snarky posts since December, 2000..)
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To: Celtic Conservative

—— a flight of B-17’s coming in from Midway——

for the record.......

“On the morning of 7 December 1941, twelve Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses were approaching Hawaii after a 14-hour flight from California. “

They were coming from the mainland


10 posted on 04/22/2016 4:56:26 AM PDT by bert ((K.E.; N.P.; GOPc;+12, 73, ....)
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To: sukhoi-30mki

It’s not ugly, but stupid looking and mis-proportioned.


11 posted on 04/22/2016 5:01:37 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: Celtic Conservative

Most personnel on the ground at Pearl said “WTF!?” when the skies suddenly filled with Zeros, Kates, & Vals. There was a massive breakdown in getting intelligence to where it was most needed.

Kinda like the famous last words of Gen. George Armstrong Custer:

“Where did all those f*****g Indians come from!!?”


12 posted on 04/22/2016 5:04:42 AM PDT by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam. Buy ammo.")
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To: sukhoi-30mki
Mitsubishi sure can build a great airplane. I flew an MU-2 on and off for two years back in the 90's.

Great picture. Look at the four bee hives in the back yard of the house in the background.

13 posted on 04/22/2016 5:20:21 AM PDT by blackdog (There is no such thing as healing, only a balance between destructive and constructive forces.)
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To: sukhoi-30mki

Not going to be stealthy with a shiny bubble canopy like that. Barely stealthier than Super Hornet with square intakes


14 posted on 04/22/2016 5:42:07 AM PDT by JudgemAll (Democrats Fed. job-security Whorocracy & hate:hypocrites must be gay like us or be tested/crucified)
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To: elcid1970

It was wood and fabric, stealthy features!


15 posted on 04/22/2016 5:43:08 AM PDT by JudgemAll (Democrats Fed. job-security Whorocracy & hate:hypocrites must be gay like us or be tested/crucified)
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To: bert

OK, California. I stand corrected. But the radar report was disregarded.

CC


16 posted on 04/22/2016 5:43:11 AM PDT by Celtic Conservative (CC: purveyor of cryptic, snarky posts since December, 2000..)
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To: elcid1970

Or the last words of Socrates:

“I drank what?”

CC


17 posted on 04/22/2016 5:45:20 AM PDT by Celtic Conservative (CC: purveyor of cryptic, snarky posts since December, 2000..)
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To: JudgemAll

And when they caught fire, they burned spectacularly. Just ask any Corsair or Hellcat pilot.

CC


18 posted on 04/22/2016 5:48:13 AM PDT by Celtic Conservative (CC: purveyor of cryptic, snarky posts since December, 2000..)
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To: Celtic Conservative
They're calling it a prototype, not a technology demonstrator so I would expect it is fairly close to the final design.

Lots of straight edges, sharp corners and discontinuities - at least towards the rear of the aircraft. Lots of things to generate radar returns. I'd hazard a guess it is not intended to be stealthy from all aspect angles. Much like the F-35, probably only "stealthy" from the forward aspect.

19 posted on 04/22/2016 5:49:46 AM PDT by ThunderSleeps (Stop obarma now! Stop the hussein - insane agenda!)
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To: driftdiver

Caught my eye too. Maybe we should sub our R&D out to them! /jk


20 posted on 04/22/2016 5:50:29 AM PDT by Riflema
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