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japanese fighter jets

Japanese Fighter Jets - Last December, Japan's Nikkei published some amazing details about what could be Japan's sixth-generation fighter jet. The plane will be produced domestically and currently costs around 5 trillion yen (about $48 billion).

The aircraft, called the F-X or F-3, was deemed necessary to maintain and hopefully surpass the air capabilities of many of its neighbors' modern air assets, particularly those of China or Russia.

Japanese Fighter Jets

Japanese Fighter Jets

According to current estimates from the Japanese Ministry of Defense, China has more than 1,000 "fourth generation" fighters at its disposal. Worse (from Japan's point of view), these numbers have tripled in the past decade.

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Adding to Tokyo's problems, Beijing has previously indicated its intention to deploy "fifth-generation" fighter jets with stealth capabilities. Russia also plans to introduce a fifth-generation aircraft soon, while a large unmanned aerial vehicle is also under development.

The news is not entirely unexpected, as the Japanese government had previously detailed its mid-term plans for a next-generation fighter jet in 2018. program.

Although a technologically advanced and innovative country, Japan has not led the production of a new fighter jet in nearly 40 years. For this reason, the country is very interested in bringing technical assistance from allied countries such as the United States and Great Britain.

According to a Nikkei news release, "as of November [2020], the Ministry of Defense had narrowed down potential candidates to Lockheed and Boeing in the US and BAE Systems in the UK. They were evaluated in three areas -- system integration capabilities such as radar and missiles, high maneuverability and sports ability and effective development technology.

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The international research and development program gives the fighter a number of interesting interoperability features with allied forces, especially in emergency situations. In theory, the new fighter should be able to share information with its friendly US aircraft, such as the F-22 and F-35, which would make joint operations easier and, most importantly, safer (allied assets for that matter).

Working with American companies like Lockheed Martin also has interesting benefits for the Japanese design team. In addition to Lockheed's excellent experience in aircraft design, Japanese companies can also work with Northrop Grumman's technical team.

Northrup Grumman is particularly skilled at designing sensors and connecting computer technology for military aircraft. Therefore, the partnership with Lockheed makes it easier for Mitsubishi Heavy to receive technical support from Northrop.

Japanese Fighter Jets

Britain's BAE is also a good choice for Japan, as it is particularly adept at developing electronic warfare technology that uses electromagnetic waves to deter adversaries. Critical of Japan's ambitions for a new fighter.

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In addition to these big names, around 1,000 other companies are expected to be involved in the program. This is the usual number required to build other modern fighters.

Components such as infrared sensors, infrared sensors, light airframes and information systems will hopefully be outsourced to the application supply chain of domestic companies. Therefore, Tokyo hopes that while external technical assistance will be used, it will eventually be able to nurture and improve its own industrial capabilities domestically.

When that happens, we have some concept art of what the fighter might look like when finished. And here it is in all its glory.

Little can really be learned from the image as it is only a concept. The final aircraft will probably look very different.

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Some suggested it might be bigger after the F-22 was finished, giving it the unofficial and frankly cool nickname of Godzilla.

However, the F-X is known to come with electronically controlled control surfaces. Airframe space is tight to maintain a low radar profile, so conventional hydraulic systems are used sparingly, if at all.

It also comes with a fiber optic flight control system (called a light-light system) as well as serpentine air intakes that help further reduce the radar cross section and heat signature in flight.

Japanese Fighter Jets

The F-X will likely come with heat shields and an integral bonded structure made of composite materials. This helps reduce the overall weight of the aircraft, giving the F-X a much-extended operational range and giving the Japanese Air Force a much-needed ability to be flexible with the air bases where the F-X operates.

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As for the movement, one of the main companies involved in the project, IHI Corporation, has been testing the new XF9-1 low-speed turbofan jet engine since 2018. This engine has some interesting "exotic" materials to help. Increase the engine's thermal resistance to 3272 degrees Fahrenheit (1800 degrees Celsius) while reducing weight.

This engine is capable of producing approximately 16.5 tons of power with afterburners. That's impressive, but it's slightly below the F119 engines currently installed in US F-22 Raptors. The XF-9 is said to be leaner and produce more power at 241 hp (180 kW) each.

Japanese engineers are also toying with thrust vectoring nozzles for the XF9-1 engine, which, if successful, would provide excellent mid-aircraft maneuverability for the F-X. This type of capability is currently an integral part of the F-22 and Russian Su-30 fighter jets. China's J-10 and J-20 fighters are believed to have similar capabilities.

Other project team members, including Toshiba and Fujitsu, are leading the development of the F-X's Gallium-Nitride "Active Electronically Scanning Array" (AESA) radar system. It will act as a form of microwave defense system for a fighter jet against incoming missiles.

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We touched on a few possible F-X possibilities above, but those are just rumors. Currently, and for obvious reasons, there are no technical specifications for the F-X. It is, however, a twin-engine drone with advanced technology, including the ability to remotely control the drone, a VR-style helmet-mounted display, and a radar (as mentioned above) that doubles as a microwave weapon to fry enemy missiles. be a fighter plane.

The fighter is also likely to include some sophisticated mission systems and electronic warfare capabilities. Mitsubishi Electric can lead the way in this field.

This system includes, for example, self-protective jamming functions. The fighter may also be equipped with the Integrated Fire Control for Fighters (IFCF) system, which will allow Japanese (and possibly American) fighters to combine their sensor and missile targeting capabilities to detect missiles beyond visual range. increases accuracy.

Japanese Fighter Jets

The F-X's landing gear will be developed by Subaru. Although better known for making cars, the company now has its own aerospace division that makes wings and landing gear for commercial aircraft such as the Boeing 777.

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Apparently the F-X can also operate up to three drone-like "loyal wingmen" or "Combat Support Drones". They will probably take on the role of sensor carrier or scout ship, while others will be used as additional weapons platforms.

Both types of drone greatly enhance the F-X's offensive capabilities and significantly reduce the manned aircraft's exposure to enemy attack.

Lockheed Martin can provide technical assistance to Mitsubishi in the development of the F-X airframe and help with system integration. For an aircraft to be truly stealthy, the design of the airframe and the materials used will be crucial.

For obvious reasons, it should be more or less radar absorbent to reduce the radar cross section as much as possible. Because system integration is so advanced, it's also a big headache.

Of The Best Japanese Fighter Jets

The new aircraft is likely to be used as a multi-role fighter capable of attacking land and sea targets, as well as in the air. It will have privacy in addition to networking capabilities to continue operating even when disturbed by electromagnetic waves.

It is likely to carry at least six weapons on board, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles and anti-ship missiles, which are standard for multi-role aircraft. During the battle, the weapons of the aircraft will obviously change according to the requirements.

The aircraft will be jointly developed by some of the biggest names in Japanese technology, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with the help of US defense companies such as Lockheed Martin. Once developed, the aircraft will be used by the Japan Self-Defense Forces and to some extent the US Armed Forces.

Japanese Fighter Jets

According to a press release, Japan initially hopes to build around 90 fighters to replace the venerable but now outdated F-2s. It is hoped that the aircraft will be ready for use in 2035.

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Plans could be even bigger to have a working prototype around 2024, with a first flight in 2028. It is also expected that the F-X will be in series production by 2031 and finally operational by 2035.

Like other "sixth generation" fighters under development, the F-X will integrate with our ground and air forces during combat. Source: Airbus

If this exciting Japanese-led initiative is implemented,

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