Japan Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Jura said:

just found on the terrific Facebook profile of navyreco

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FORBIN said:

Right now 501-505 in service, next year 506 Kokuryū and in 2016 this 507 no name for the moment.

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SamuraiBlue said:

When you launch a ship they christen her with a name, 507 is christen as "Jinryu" or God dragon. If you like Dragon Ball you can also call it "Shenron".LoL

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Reports in the Japanese press recently suggested that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is planning on launching the maiden flight of their stealth technology experimental aircraft as early as next January. The plane, called the Advanced Technology Demonstrator-X, or ATD-X, will not be a prototype of a production aircraft, functioning instead as a vehicle for testing stealth capabilities.

Japanese engineers and designers are using the ATD-X project to improve their grasp of critical technologies, as well as provide a proof-of-concept demonstration of these advanced applications before their incorporation into a full-scale production model. The hope is that the testing and validation of various technological aspects will simplify the design and construction of their proposed next-generation fighter aircraft, which is currently dubbed the F-3.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the Technical Research and Development Institute, the branch of Japan's Ministry of Defense that is overseeing the project, were both quick to deny the reports of a January launch, however, noting that they have not finalized plans for an inaugural test flight. Discussion in the press had indicated that the Japanese government expects to take over the ATD-X prototype in March and examine its performance over the following two years.

Defense industry observers believe that Japan will decide by FY 2018 whether it intends to build its next-generation fighter by itself or seek out international partners. In terms of regional hardware, the F-3 will have to contend with Chinese stealth fighter jets and potentially Russian ones, so it will likely be a stealthy aircraft but will also require significant counter-stealth capabilities.

Japan had expressed interest in the F-22, a top-of-the line US fighter jet, although the sale of the F-22 outside the US was ultimately blocked. Japan is currently slated to deploy the multi-role F-35 once it has finished development.

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Miragedriver said:

I don't know whether Japan pursuing its own programs without American involvement, or simply another way to prove that Nippon too could develop their own stealth program. Or simply, Japan is fed up with the increasing price, and infinite problems with Joint Strike Fighter.

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Jeff Head said:

Japan is capable of developing a 5th generation stealth fighter on its own. But, as with other Japanese developed systems, because the production run is usually very limited, the cost is very, very high. And would end up being much hoigher, IMHO, than the F-35 or F-22.

But Japan is not "fed up," with the F-35. They, above all nations, know that bringing such technology to the fore is going to have birthing pains. The costs are dropping on the F-35, and will continue to do so. The Japanese have committed to purchase the F-35. As I say, they are not fed up.

Of course they are concerned. They want to see any issues rectified and the best aircraft come out of the process as possible.

They really wanted the F-22 and they wanted it for the air superiority role. They are building the Advanced Technology Demonstrator-X (ATD-X) to explore developing a future air superiotrity fighter of their own. But it is just that...a demonstrator. it is not even a prototype. If they decided to go forward with it, IMHO, they would be over a decade away from having the initial production aircraft.

Time will tell what they do...but in that time frame the US will begin putting out the Navy's FXX prototypes, in the mid-to late 20s I think.

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Miragedriver said:

Thank you for the update and clarification Jeff. Yes I can see that with the lack of economy of scale the Japanese fighter project could get out of hand.

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