Japan Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

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schenkus

Junior Member
Registered Member
Blackstone said:
Humm, you'd think Japan's stealth fighter project would be much further along, with assistance from Uncle Sugar.
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The way I understand it, there has been a faction arguing for a "japanese designed and build" fighter plane (instead of a "licensed build with small changes" plane) for quite some time.
These people argue that in the 80s their design ("FS-X") was not choosen because of american pressure (instead the F-2 was built based on the F-16).

After america refused selling the F-22 to Japan, there was a chance to once again try and develop an indigenous fighter.

The people in this project don't want to rely on american help, and it seems they don't receive any. A documentation about the project mentioned that they had to send some models to France for RCS testing implying that they could not get this done in the US.
 
Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
schenkus said:
The people in this project don't want to rely on american help, and it seems they don't receive any. A documentation about the project mentioned that they had to send some models to France for RCS testing implying that they could not get this done in the US.
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Do not kid yourself. That report about the RCS models in France, were about very initial RCS design that occurred years ago .

The US will work with Japan and Mitsubishi (who is the prime contractor) on this project...and in fact is doing so. Lockheed Martin is involved from an aircraft design standpoint. GE and Pratt & Whitney have been consulted (along with others) on engines.

The ATD-X is simply a technology demonstrator and Japan will decide, after the program itself is complete, whether to use what it learns from it on a indigenous production aircraft later. Whatever that aircraft turns out to be, it will work hand in hand with the US Military, just like their current aircraft are capable of doing, and just like the JMSDF does.

In order for that to happen, there will be a lot of US involvement...even if the ultimate aircraft is an indigenous Japanese design. The US and Japan right now , if anything, are growing even closer militarily.
 
TerraN_EmpirE

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
TerraN_EmpirE said:
Things just got interesting.
Mitsubishi boasts tech leap with armored amphibious vehicle, eyes exports

REUTERS
In January, a top U.S. Marine general visited Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan to look at a prototype of an amphibious assault vehicle that could one day be a key pillar in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s push to sell weapons abroad.

Using engines adapted from the main battle tank the company makes for Japan’s military and new water jet propulsion technology, the full-size prototype is undergoing pool tests, although it is in the early stages of development and production could be years off.

Nevertheless, the maker of the wartime Zero fighter plane is eyeing overseas sales after Abe lifted a decades-old ban on arms exports in April last year as part of his more muscular security agenda, two Japanese defence industry sources said.

Mitsubishi designers believe the prototype shown to U.S. Marine Corps Pacific commander Lt. Gen. John Toolan will be more maneuverable and faster across the water than the 40-year-old AAV7 amphibious assault vehicle used to carry U.S. Marines onto beaches from naval ships anchored offshore, the sources said.

The AAV7 is built by the U.S. unit of Britain’s BAE Systems .

The prototype’s engines in particular could be fitted onto other armored vehicles, the sources added.

“It’s an opportunity for Mitsubishi Heavy to tap overseas markets for its engine technology,” said one of the sources, who declined to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Mitsubishi Heavy wants to build an amphibious armored vehicle that can move through water at 20 to 25 knots (37 to 46 kph) compared to the more than 7 knots (13 kph) reached by the AAV7, said the sources.

“If the Japanese can get 20 knots in the water without compromising maneuverability on land, we will be very interested,” said one Marine Corps official who saw the prototype in January but declined to be identified.

“Whether that’s possible remains to be seen.”

A Mitsubishi Heavy spokesman said the prototype had been shown to the Ministry of Defense, but declined to give details about the vehicle. At a Paris arms show last June, a suitcase-size model of an eight-wheeled armored troop carrier was the centerpiece display at the company’s exhibition booth.

The Defense Ministry was aware of Mitsubishi Heavy’s research into amphibious vehicles but was not involved in the project, a ministry spokesman said.

Manny Pacheco, a spokesman for U.S. Marine Corps procurement, declined comment on the prototype.

But he said the Marine Corps was “always interested in the technological advances of industry” and encouraged manufacturers to use “every opportunity to showcase their wares and get their products submitted through our competitive procurement process”.

Amphibious vehicles are central to marine units around the world, allowing forces to operate on land and sea. But there has been little significant technological advancement in such vehicles in recent decades.

A tracked Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle that was being developed for the U.S. Marine Corps by U.S. weapons maker General Dynamics Corp. was canceled in 2011 after big cost increases and technical issues.

The Marine Corps last year kicked off a competition for a new wheeled amphibious combat vehicle (ACV) that could operate on shorelines and shallow water.

Pacheco said the Marine Corps was reviewing proposals from five manufacturers to build a prototype. He did not identify the companies.

A feasibility study by BAE and General Dynamics had recommended against using current technology to build a vehicle in line with Marine Corps requirements, a U.S.-based BAE spokeswoman told Reuters.

“The study concluded that although the technology existed, it would not be fielded at an affordable price,” she said.

BAE was talking to Mitsubishi Heavy about being a potential partner on the body design of the new Japanese vehicle, the BAE spokeswoman added.

General Dynamics was in similar talks with Mitsubishi Heavy, said sources in Japan. General Dynamics said it did “not have any information to provide at this time”.

Mitsubishi Heavy has been making armored vehicles for Japan’s military for around 80 years, beginning with the Imperial forces in the 1930s. It also builds fighter aircraft, naval vessels, submarines and missiles.

The company also makes high-speed marine engines and water jet propulsion systems, according to its website.

“Japan’s technology is good enough that we have to look at it,” said a U.S. military industrial source familiar with the amphibious vehicle plans.

Although a coastal nation, postwar Japan only formed an amphibious military unit in 2012. The 3,000-strong unit will be equipped with more than 50 AAV7s.

It was disappointment at the speed of those vehicles over water that spurred Japan to build a new one, Japanese defense officials told Reuters.

Japan’s military is also concerned about the ability of the caterpillar-tracked vehicles to ride over coral reefs, a common feature in the East China Sea, where Tokyo is embroiled in a territorial dispute with China.

The BAE spokeswoman acknowledged the desire of the U.S. Marine Corps to increase water speed, adding there should be “no operational concern” with coral reefs.
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I am looking for pictures
The given speeds remind me of the Gibbs Lockheed Martin Amphibious Combat Craft concept.6a00d83451b88369e200e54f1f7a188834-800wi.jpg


TerraN_EmpirE said:
now that I think of it it might be related to this.
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Currently the Japanese due to stresses in the region and territorial concerns have begun assembling a Marine corps in the JGSDF. This is a Decision That seems to me to be a absolute need considering that Japan is a nation made of islands and the SDF to protect that nation would need to be able to deploy across the whole of the nation in any potential crisis with or with out access by Air or port in a disaster meaning they need some form of Amphibious capacity.
To do this they have 6 AAV7A1 with requirements for 52 more. if delivered that would make them the third largest user of the type the second being South Korea ROCMC (162) and the USMC (1311) being the top user.
the problem of course is sea denial pushes the ranges.
the top speed of a AAV7A1 at sea is about 8.2 MPH or 13.2 KPH and can operate for about 20NM with a Sea state 5 which is pretty good, except thanks to sea denial and the proliferation of anti ship missile systems AAV's can't be deployed into the Sea within the 20NM range but beyond 80 nm or more.
even if the ranges could be extended of the AAV the slow water speed would mean having the passangers trapped inside for hours.
Originally the USMC aimed to replace it with EFV which had a 74 mile sea range and a speed of 28.6 MPH at sea as part of a Over the Horizon strategy that was however canceled. The USMC's programs of Record today is the ACV which although it seems to be aimed well on land based on the requirements for it's sea performance has a shorter range and equal speed to the AAV7A1. this leaves the western powers limited in Amphibious operations. Although many vehicles can swim few can swim any where near as far or fast.

On the other side of the Coin the PLA has been working hard there ZBD series have the speed of EFV and possibly the sea range although at a smaller size. ZBD also puts ACV and AAV to shame in terms of raw fire power with 105mm light tank and IFV variants either one capable of making sushi out of a AAV in one on one battle.

If Mitsubish can pull this off then it could put the Amphibious assault game back on a square footing in terms of Range and speed as well as offering protection at a fair price then the USMC would be wise to invest as the First Export( More likely licencing and probably the largest ) buyer.
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