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

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The J-20 is assessed to have started low rate initial production stage in 2016. It is assessed to have stealth features such as recessed weapon bays (two lateral bays and one larger main weapon bay). It is also equipped with infra-red distributed aperture and electro-optical sensors flushed under the fuselage to allow for stealth mode targeting without using the radar.

Defense-update

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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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China Displays Stealth Fighter At Dubai

China displayed the FC-31 stealth fighter at the Dubai Airshow. Designed by the state-owned Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC), the FC-31 first flew in 2012 and is expected to enter service in 2020. According to AVIC, the FC-31 has a combat range of 1200km and a payload of 8 metric tonne.

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PAK FA T-50 Stealth Fighter

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