By Jay Menon
Japan is pressing ahead with its plans to build one of the world’s most sophisticated stealth jet fighters, with the first prototype expected in fiscal 2024 and mass production in fiscal 2031.
The Japanese defence ministry officials will expedite talks with their US and British counterparts about how to cooperate on the development of the new F-X supersonic fighter jet.
Currently, Tokyo is discussing cost sharing and the extent of technology the foreign firms can provide, among other issues.
The first production aircraft could roll out of Mitsubishi Heavy Industry’s factory in 2030. Mitsubishi, which has produced all of Japan’s modern fighters—usually under license from a foreign firm—will build the new aircraft.
Japan will lead the development of the new stealth fighter, which could replace the Air Self-Defense Force’s single engine F-2 aircraft. The ageing fleet of about 100 F-2s jets are scheduled to be retired from 2035.
Japan has earmarked US$256.5 million in fiscal year 2020 for “F-X related research projects” and “conceptual design in Japan-led development.”
The proposed aircraft is likely to be a twin-engine, with an ability to sync missile targeting between multiple aircraft, known as integrated fire control or network shooting.
The country’s fiscal 2020 defence budget said more than US$261 million (28 billion yen) had been set aside for the programme, known as the F-X, including money to develop drones that could operate with the stealth jets, a technology also being developed in Australia and the U.S.
Mitsubishi is trying to get Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing and BAE Systems to get involved in the ambitious project, estimated to cost US$40 billion. The company developed Japan’s stealth fighter technology demonstrator, the X-2, in 2016.
According to Japan’s Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Agency (ALTA), the aircraft is also likely to possess internal weapons bays, like those seen on American F-22 stealth jets. The engines could be Japan’s equivalent of the Pratt & Whitney F119 turbofan engine that powers the F-22.
The defence ministry is expected to set guidelines for the development within this month (July) and select domestic manufacturers by the end of the year, according to Japanese government officials.
The Defense Ministry presented the draft schedule at a meeting of a group of lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on July 7.
Collaboration with the US would help Japan secure operational interchangeability with its ally. Britain plans to develop a new fighter jet on a schedule similar to Japan.
Since World War II, Japan has produced only two combat aircraft including the now-retired 1975 F1 and the 2006 F-2.
Scoot, the low-cost arm of Singapore Airlines, recently received the first Embraer E190-E2 aircraft at Changi Airport. "We are excited…
The first of two Fincantieri-built PPA (Pattugliatore Polivalente d'Altura - offshore multi-purpose patrol vessel) for the Indonesian Navy is expected…
Thailand’s DTI (Defence Technology Institute) and the Royal Thai Army recently conducted a successful test of the DTI-STD-003 bridge layer…
Eve Air Mobility has signed a letter of intent with AirX, Japan’s largest public helicopter air charter service, for up…
L3Harris Technologies has received a US$256 million order from the U.S. Army for continued production of the Enhanced Night Vision…
The Missile Defense Agency has selected Lockheed Martin to deliver the nation's new homeland missile defense capability, the Next Generation…
Collins Aerospace will introduce two major upgrades to the Ascentia software platform. Ascentia is a software solution for aircraft reliability management that…
Pratt & Whitney Canada's PT6A engine recently surpassed 25 million flight hours and 40 years of powering the Cessna Caravan…
The US Army deployed its Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system to Northern Luzon, Philippines for the first time. This deployment…
Milrem Robotics has secured a contract to deliver an undisclosed quantity of THeMIS UGVs (Unmanned Ground Vehicles) to the Japanese…
CMA CGM Air Cargo is set to expand its service by launching a transpacific route connecting Asia to North America…
Eve Air Mobility (Eve) has designated Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) as the supplier for the pylons of its electric…
Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo arm of one of the two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has established…
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has secured a contract to supply a Multi-Sensor Multi-Mission Radar (MS-MMR) system for the air defence…
The first Embraer E190F, a jet converted from passenger transport to freighter (E-Freighter), successfully concluded its inaugural flight in São…
The Government of Greece officially announced its plans to purchase 35 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters from Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin…
Cathay Cargo resumed its Ho Chi Minh City freighter service on April 4, 2024, after a four-year hiatus due to…
Skykraft has secured approval from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for its spectrum filing for a constellation of 2976 satellites.…
The U.S. Navy, in partnership with Lockheed Martin, has successfully conducted a historic Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) flight test with…
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a contract worth up to $559 million over five years to operate, maintain…
Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) introduced the ARBEL, hailed as the world’s first computerized small arms system, on Thursday (Apr. 4).…
Hong Kong’s Government Flying Service (GFS) has integrated the H175 helicopter flight simulator developed by Indra into their training regimen.…
After a hiatus of over 30 years, Air Canada is set to return to Singapore's Changi International Airport with the…
FLY91, India's youngest regional airline, announced a partnership with IBS Software on Wednesday (Apr. 3). Aiming to enhance its commercial…
Malaysia Airlines announced its partnership with RECARO Aircraft Seating to equip its upcoming Airbus A330neo aircraft with the CL3810 economy…
Rolls-Royce announced that the company has begun flight testing its latest aero engine the Pearl 10X on its dedicated Boeing…
Avolon, a global aviation finance company, has agreed to sell and lease back four new Airbus A330neo aircraft with Cebu…
Malaysia Airlines and India’s largest airline, IndiGo, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a codeshare partnership…
The Indonesian flag carrier airline, Garuda Indonesia, unveiled plans to expand its aircraft fleet with the procurement of eight new…
Belgian Defence has placed an order for six R7 Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) from Exail. These unmanned underwater vehicles are…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us Click Me!
2024 GBP all rights reserved.