Japan to Develop 6th Generation Fighter With US Help

[Hamartia Antidote]

https://www.overtdefense.com/2020/04/23/japan-to-develop-6th-generation-fighter-with-us-help/

Japan will be developing its next-generation fighter jet, the Mitsubishi F-3, in conjunction with American companies. The F-3 is set to replace the currently serving Mitsubishi F-2 starting in the 2030s.

Japanese Air Self-Defense Force Mitsubishi F-2
In the last few years, there have been rumours of a possible UK-Japan joint development program for the F-3, but an article recently published by Japanese news outlet Sankei News suggests the Japanese government has chosen not to continue working with British companies. It did this over concerns related to other countries’ participation in the development of Britain’s own 6th gen fighter, the Tempest, and concerns of future interoperability issues with US military equipment.

A model of the Tempest at DSEI 2019
Interoperability between the US military and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces is a cornerstone of the two nations’ defense strategies in the region. The F-3 will be Japan’s first indigenously produced stealth aircraft, and design assistance from the US will certainly make the integration of American weapons to the aircraft much easier. Another key area of integration is the aircraft’s ability to share the “picture” created by its sensors with friendly aircraft, especially with Airborne Early Warning and Control (AWACS). The data collected by the advanced sensors of 5th gen jets like the F-35 already provides a massive boost in the situational awareness of the AWACS, which in turn increases the situational awareness and therefore effectiveness of all friendly aircraft that can talk to the AWACS.

The ability to contribute so massively to the efforts of all aircraft in their area of operations is perhaps the greatest feature 5th gen jets bring to the table, and fighters of the 6th generation will without a doubt only improve in this regard.

 

[UKBengali]

I expect this to be an amazing fighter with a lot of US tech in stealth and engines.

 

[ÇölKaplanı]

I expect this to be an amazing fighter with a lot of US tech in stealth and engines.

These are just speculations, there's no official deal yet.

 

[FairAndUnbiased]

so US will help Japan develop a Japanese 6th gen, when Japan doesn't even have 5th gen, and US does not even have a bid for 6th gen up? lol.

 

[F-22Raptor]

so US will help Japan develop a Japanese 6th gen, when Japan doesn't even have 5th gen, and US does not even have a bid for 6th gen up? lol.

Well the US is pumping significant amounts of money into R&D on its next generation fighter program. And this is just the unclassified portion. The US Air Force spends around $30-40 billion annually on black programs.

 

[Figaro]

Why would the US do this when it can just sell its future 6th generation warplanes directly to Japan? I'm pretty sure that would be more profitable anyways ...

 

[Song Hong]

Ridiculous Japan cant develop 5th generation plane and now planning to do 6th generation.

 

[UKBengali]

Why would the US do this when it can just sell its future 6th generation warplanes directly to Japan? I'm pretty sure that would be more profitable anyways ...

As the Japanese would then go alone.

They are well capable of making a next-gen fighter as they have the industrial base and money. They would only struggle with the engines.

 

[FairAndUnbiased]

As the Japanese would then go alone.

They are well capable of making a next-gen fighter as they have the industrial base and money. They would only struggle with the engines.

they have the money? Where's the money?

what's Japan's track record with aerospace?

 

[Leishangthem]

It's a shame how China cornered JAPAN into working with a western hegemon.
China somehow started believing their own propaganda bureau's anti Japanese facade and than made some serious political blunders out of pure spite ,in very dumb manner .

 

[UKBengali]

they have the money? Where's the money?

what's Japan's track record with aerospace?

Japan can well afford 20-30 billion dollars over the next 15 years if it wanted to.

Track record? F-2, Kawasaki P1 and C2 among others.

 

[tower9]

It's a shame how China cornered JAPAN into working with a western hegemon.
China somehow started believing their own propaganda bureau's anti Japanese facade and than made some serious political blunders out of pure spite ,in very dumb manner .

Japan's been a US vassal since the end of WW2. Nothing new.

 

[Tom99]

japan started their supposed 5 Gen. prototype stealth fighter around 2007.

But now 13 years later and they still are not producing these fighters. And we are to believe that they will get a 6 Gen Stealth fighter ready around 2030?

 

[Suika]

I expect this to be an amazing fighter with a lot of US tech in stealth and engines.

Although to add, the Japanese plan on using their own 15 ton class engine. Development of the prototype jet engine model called XF9-1 was completed in 2018 and was handed over to the Ministry of Defense for evaluation in June 2018.

https://www.ihi.co.jp/ihi/all_news/2018/aeroengine_space_defense/2018-6-29/index.html
https://www.mod.go.jp/atla/pinup/pinup300629.pdf

The XF9-1 was developed from the XF5-1 pictured below which was used in the X-2 tech demonstrator.

The experience with developing the XF5-1 was used not only for developing the XF9-1 but also for the development of the engine used in the P-1 maritime patrol aircraft, the X7 engine.

So there's been a lot of jet engine development activities going on in the past 15 years. Here's a video of the XF9-1 for the new F-3 fighter carrying out acceleration phased testing.

Here's a general review about the FX9-1 engine.

 

[UKBengali]

Although to add, the Japanese plan on using their own 15 ton class engine. Development of the prototype jet engine model called XF9-1 was completed in 2018 and was handed over to the Ministry of Defense for evaluation in June 2018.

https://www.ihi.co.jp/ihi/all_news/2018/aeroengine_space_defense/2018-6-29/index.html
https://www.mod.go.jp/atla/pinup/pinup300629.pdf

The XF9-1 pictured below was developed from the XF5-1 which was used in the X-2 tech demonstrator.

The experience with developing the XF5-1 was used not only for developing the XF9-1 but also for the development of the engine used in the P-1 maritime patrol aircraft, the X7 engine.

So there's been a lot of jet engine development activities going on in the past 15 years. Here's a video of the XF9-1 for the new F-3 fighter carrying out acceleration phased testing.

Here's a general review about the FX9-1 engine.

Yes I know that Japan is the most advanced in engine tech behind the UN P5, but it would probably struggle to develop a truly competitive engine for a 6th gen fighter so would need to incorporate some US tech into this fighter in the areas of stealth and engines. Rest of the plane it can do itself.