Japan Mulls Indigenous Stealth Fighter

The Japanese government will have to decide between developing an indigenous advanced stealth fighter (an industry-pleasing move) and a cheaper, more cost effective conventional fighter jet (prudent spending of the taxpayers’ yen).

In March, the Defense Ministry issued a request for information (RFI) for foreign joint development of the new fighter, which would replace the ageing F-2 and operate alongside Lockheed Martin’s new F-35s JSF and still potent F-15s.

So far, Boeing and Lockheed Martin have responded to the RFI.

The new fighter, dubbed the F-3, could cost Japan as much as $40 billion, depending on the specifications chosen. It would be a major component of the future air force with over a hundred to be purchased for service. This is based on a one-to-one replacement of the F-2, of which 141 (funding was later approved for 130) were initially to be purchased before cost and technical problem forced the procurement to b pared down to 94.

Proponents of the stealth fighter aim to build an aircraft more advanced than the F-22 Raptor, which the United States refused to sell to Japan.

The Mitsubishi Heavy Industries X-2 stealth demonstrator has just made a successful maiden flight in April 2016. It can potentially be the basis for a much larger new stealth fighter.

On the other hand, building a cheaper and less technologically advanced fighter would be able to secure overseas sale to offset the developmental cost and life cycle cost.

A final decision on the project is expected by early 2018.



Japanese Self Defense Force F-2 fighters during the 2016 exercise Cope North Guam.

japantimes

defenseindustrydaily.com

janes.com

Japanese Stealth Fighter Prototype Unveiled

Japan unveiled its first stealth fighter technology demonstrator - X-2 Shinshin. Previously known as the Mitsubshi ATD, the X-2 will make its maiden flight in Feb 2016. The X-2 may be the precusor to a new stealth fighter to be developed later as Japan will need to replace its existing F-15J and F-2 fighter around 2028.

The X-2 will have vector thrust paddles on the engine nozzles of the twin Ishikawa Heavy Industries low-bypass turbofan engines. The paddles will allow the pilot to control the direction of the exhaust, thereby increasing an aircraft's maneuverability tremendousy. The engine is a new design, each providing around five tons of thrust. The X-2 also has angled twin vertical stabilizers set at an even steeper angle, similarly to that initially proposed for the F-15 Silent Eagle. The angled stabilizers were later dropped from the stealth fighter proposal offered to South Korea. Boeing cited limited cost effectiveness as a reason for the change.

asia.nikkei.com

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