Japanese Projects

[Deino]

... something more on the stealthy demonstrator !

I'm not sure but these puctures were said to be taken from a Dassault test facility...

[Hood]

Flicking through Air International I noticed an article, the Japanese have unveiled plans for a fifth-generation 'stealth fighter' which they hope to have flying within five years. It mentions the refusal of the USA to allow F-22 sales to Japan have forced Japan to embark on a RCS programme (which I think the photo published probably represents more than any finished design). Given the seemingly swift and smooth C-X and P-X programmes is this a doable project given the set backs of the F-2?

Another stumbling block will be the right engines and radar, weapons systems and other electronics. Most of these items to be comparable with the F-22 and Su-35 will have to be USA sourced items surely, unless Japan has the neccessary R&D to make a comparable system.

I'd be interested in your opinons on the likelyhood of this programme becoming real hardware and any problems it may have.

[starviking]

Flicking through Air International I noticed an article, the Japanese have unveiled plans for a fifth-generation 'stealth fighter' which they hope to have flying within five years. It mentions the refusal of the USA to allow F-22 sales to Japan have forced Japan to embark on a RCS programme (which I think the photo published probably represents more than any finished design). Given the seemingly swift and smooth C-X and P-X programmes is this a doable project given the set backs of the F-2?

Another stumbling block will be the right engines and radar, weapons systems and other electronics. Most of these items to be comparable with the F-22 and Su-35 will have to be USA sourced items surely, unless Japan has the neccessary R&D to make a comparable system.

I'd be interested in your opinons on the likelyhood of this programme becoming real hardware and any problems it may have.

I wouldn't be surprised if it is developed as a demonstrator, with foreign engines and maybe a developed F-2 radar. I reckon there wouldn't be too much in the way of flight-control problems, there's enough experience with the F-2 to apply to a stealth demonstrator.

I doubt that there'd be a production model at the end of it. It would be developed just enough to show the US that Japan could develop a fighter in the F-22 class, then Japan would say "...or you could let us buy yours?"

Starviking

[overscan]

Added to existing topic.

[Just call me Ray]

I doubt that there'd be a production model at the end of it. It would be developed just enough to show the US that Japan could develop a fighter in the F-22 class, then Japan would say "...or you could let us buy yours?"
 

I think the Japanese pursuing their own stealth program might in fact be the best "win-win" situation - the Japanese will have a stealth aircraft, optimized for their own needs, while the Americans can still preserve the secrecy of the F-22 (and I highly doubt it's the F-22's stealth alone that makes its export a nervous contention).

On the other hand, a stealth aircraft at all in the hands of the Japanese can in turn be unsettling given their constitutional restrictions and regional stability (the South Koreans still look at Japan wearily not only over WWII, yes 60 years later even, but over the Dokdo Islands), but if the Japanese are determined to get a stealth aircraft then they will, if by their own means even.

In the meantime, I see nothing wrong with Japanese F-35s.

[Deino]

I'm not sure if already posted, but here's an interesting video in Japanese (!) about the ATD-X

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/zVZjfmjtIlc&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/zVZjfmjtIlc&rel=1</a>

Deino

[flateric]

Dear EEP1A - at least we have you as native speaker! Domo arigato! BTW, klicking there and there at the DoD site, I've found this picture, can't you explain what caption says please?

http://www.mod.go.jp/trdi/topics/topi1407.html

Thanks in advance!

[EEP1A]

I've found this picture, can't you explain what caption says please?
http://www.mod.go.jp/trdi/topics/topi1407.html

No problem. This is the full translation of the caption.

" A research on the self-adjusting flight control system (July 2002)
TRDI (Technical Research and Development Institute of Japanese Defence Agency) is doing research on the self-adjusting flight control system which make possible a safe flight after the control surfaces (flap, rudder etc.) are destroyed, by adjusting the control program. This photo depicts a model using this system inside a wind tunnel. When a control surface of that model is suddenly unabled by external signal, the model becomes uncontrollable for a moment but adjusting the flight program immediately, the model restores the flight attitude using other control surfaces."

Just a hypothetical fighter model to test new flight control system.

[flateric]

Domo arigato gozaimasu! So it's self-controlled, self-adjusted FBW system as I understand.

[Deino]

A new picture of that RC-model !

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20071002-00000003-jijp-soci.view-000

Deino

[jackehammond]

Folks,

The Japanese seem to have a policy of "Money is no object" as long as it is R&D in Japan and built in Japan.  For example the Kawasaki is the most expensive (in those days dollars) transport every built, beating out even the C-5A!!!!

Jack E. Hammond

[hesham]

Aviation Magazine Num 768 (15-XII-1979)

Shin-meiwa Project LA

This 40 seat flying boat was to be the star Shin-meiwa product in the 80's

My dear pometablava,
the Shin Meiwa aircraft was SS-X project and it would seat
30-50 passengers.
http://www.flightglobal.com/PDFArchive/View/1991/1991%20-%200472.html?search=kawasaki%20commuter%20aircraft

[Woody]

Anyone any suggestions as to why the ATD-X (Japanese stealth demonstrator) has a cockpit with such apparently crap visibility? It looks like a 2 seater with the rear cockpit blocked in.

Cheers, Woody

[Kim Margosein]

"Given the seemingly swift and smooth C-X and P-X programmes is this a doable project given the set backs of the F-2?"

I don't think you can compare the technologies.  I don't know about their construction, but these two aircraft look like some jet derivative of the Lockheed Electra.

Kim M

[Apophenia]

Kawasaki licence-built the P-3C for the JMSDF so its not surprising that their Orion replacement resembles the Electra. I don't think this implies that dated technology has been employed (if that was your intention). These days, KHI's bread and butter comes from making major components for Bombardier and Boeing designs.