Japan stealth jet prototype set to fly in 2014

[Vehl]

TOKYO -- A senior military official says Japan is on track to test a domestically designed prototype stealth fighter in three years.

Lt. Gen. Hideyuki Yoshioka says the prototype will likely be rolled out for a test flight on schedule in 2014.

Yoshioka is the director the air systems development at Japan's Ministry of Defense and spoke with The AP this week.

Japan has put 39 billion yen ($473 million) into the project since 2009 after it became clear the United States was not likely to sell its most advanced fighter jet because of a congressional export ban.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/08/AR2011030800114.html

Mitsubishi ATD-X Shinshin

The Mitsubishi ATD-X Shinshin is a state of the art prototype fifth-generation jet fighter that uses advanced stealth technology. Being developed by the Japanese Ministry of Defense Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI) for research purposes. The main contractor of the project is Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Many consider this aircraft to be Japan's first domestically made stealth fighter. ATD-X is an acronym meaning "Advanced Technology Demonstrator – X". The aircraft's Japanese name is 心神 (shin-shin) which means one's mind. The aircraft's first flight is scheduled for 2014.

Some pics





Mitsubishi was the same company that produced that famous Zero of ww2. I'm willing to bet that this Japanese Fighter would steal the show from most of the 5th generation fighters currently operational/under development in other nations.

[wtmusic]

1. Lighter? More maneuverable?

Those principles were famously successful with the Zero.

[NeedleCast]

9. Define successful

The Zero was more maneuverable and could climb faster than it's US opponents but most US fighters, even in '41 could out-dive the Zero. The Zero was also unarmored for the most part and couldn't take nearly the damage of it's US counterparts and remain air worthy.

[wtmusic]

11. A kill ratio of 12:1 in 1941 could be considered successful

"When it was introduced early in World War II, the Zero was the best carrier-based fighter in the world, combining excellent maneuverability and very long range.<1> In early combat operations, the Zero gained a legendary reputation as a "dogfighter", achieving the outstanding kill ratio of 12 to 1,<2> but by 1942 a combination of new tactics and the introduction of better equipment enabled the Allied pilots to engage the Zero on more equal terms.<3> The Imperial Japanese Naval Air Service (IJNAS) also frequently used the type as a land-based fighter. By 1943, inherent design weaknesses and the increasing lack of more powerful aircraft engines meant that the Zero became less effective against newer enemy fighters that possessed greater firepower, armor, and speed, and approached the Zero's maneuverability. Although the Mitsubishi A6M was outdated by 1944, it was never totally supplanted by the newer Japanese aircraft types. During the final years of the War in the Pacific, the Zero was used in kamikaze operations.<4> In the course of the war, more Zeros were built than any other Japanese aircraft."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_A6M

[Posteritatis]

15. I hear technology's changed a bit since 1940. (nt)

[wtmusic]

18. Lightness and maneuverability haven't. nt

[damntexdem]

2. Maybe it already has and we couldn't tell.

;-)

[Yavin4]

3. It Would Have Been Really Funny If It Was A Picture of a Big Empty Hangar

Everyone would have said, "where's the plane"? And the response would be, "it's stealth".

[Cali_Democrat]

6. LOL. n/t

[TheWraith]

4. Looks an awful lot like an F-22 to me.

With a pinch of F/A-18 thrown in.

[Sherman A1]

5. To a degree they are all going to look similar

it's just the nature of finding the best design that works.

[TheWraith]

23. Yeah, but the Japanese do have a history of making off with people's designs.

Compare a WWII era Japanese Zero to Howard Hughes' H-1 racing aircraft.

[Phoonzang]

7. Here's some more concept art of the new fighter

[Vehl]

22. good one :)) nt

[TheMightyFavog]

8. And this is the first thing that came to my mind...

[NeedleCast]

10. Starscream?

Japan in league with Decepticons. It was only a matter of time.

[spanone]

12. i want one

[jody]

13. ROFL What does Japan plan, another attack like Dec. 7? n/t

[Posteritatis]

16. Oy. (nt)

[Warren DeMontague]

17. I think you need to let it go, already.

Seriously. I come from a Jewish family, and I'm not angry at today's Germans.

[jody]

19. So am I and I'm not angry at Germans. n/t

[Vehl]

21. Just to defend their islands from you know who nt

[Warren DeMontague]

14. Godzilla doesn't stand a fucking chance. nt

[wtmusic]

20. .

:spray: