Japan announced its plans to develop the world's most sophisticated fighter jet after the United States approved the purchase of F-35 fighter jets. According to CNN's latest report, Japan's critical air defense will be taken over, sometime in the next decade, by new stealth fighter jets designed to be a twin-engine aircraft.
Japan targeting 2031 as start of production of new homegrown stealth fighter. The new domestically produced plane will replace the F-2, with U.S collaboration on technology and prototype production by FY2024 . pic.twitter.com/u2Bz3tipBR — ABC (@farhanjamil1975) July 9, 2020
Also Read : Tesla Website Crashed After Elon Musk Sold Red Hot Shorts; Plans to Open New Factory in Asia
The new sixth-generation fighter jets would begin production in the fiscal year 2031, as stated by the Ministry of Defense, informing the members of the Diet, Japan's parliament. Japan's national broadcaster NHK News said that it will replace the country's aging fleet of almost 100 F-2 jets, the single-engine fourth-generation fighters, which were modeled after the U.S. F-16 jets.
Forbes reported that it will cost a lot to develop Japan's fighter jet. More than $261 million (28 billion yen) had been set aside by the country's fiscal 2020 defense budget for the program called "F-X." A budget to develop the drones that could operate with the stealth jets is also set aside. The drones are currently being developed in the U.S., as well as in Australia.
F-X's features that you should know
Here are the features which could be expected from the new fighter jet, according to Japan's Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Agency (ALTA);
'F-22 & F-35 combined': #LockheedMartin to offer Japan stealth fighter jet ‘superior to F-35’ https://t.co/1M2qdLGzBj pic.twitter.com/Bw6bQYuEGj — RT (@RT_com) April 20, 2018
-- The new stealth fighter jet has integrated fire control or network shooting feature that allows it to sync missile targeting between multiple aircraft.
-- It has internal weapons bays, just like the American F-22 stealth jets have.
-- It can maneuver more sharply because of its thrust-vectoring nozzles.
The new technology's development comes along the approval of the U.S. to Japan's purchase of more than 100 F-35 jets. 42 F-35B jets require short takeoff roll and can land vertically, and 63 F-35A jets, which take off from runways, are included in the country's purchase. The fighter jets will be stationed on Japanese helicopter destroyers and small aircraft carriers, which will soon be upgraded to carry the F-35Bs.
"This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Asia-Pacific region," said the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency after approving the sale.
"It is vital to U.S. national interest to assist Japan in developing and maintaining a strong and effective self-defense capability," added the U.S. agency. The deal was estimated to cost $23 billion.
