Yahoo... AFP A group of major Japanese firms are planning a test flight next year for the nation's first homegrown stealth fighter jet, a report said Tuesday.
The consortium -- led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries -- is developing a jet that has similar technology to US-made F-35 stealth fighters, with a prototype set for a test run in January, the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper said.
About 39.2 billion yen ($384 million) has been invested in the project, said the report, which did not cite sources.
Following the initial flight, the jet will undergo about two years of testing at the defence ministry with Tokyo set to decide on whether to buy the plane by early 2019, it added.
The story could not be immediately confirmed.
Japan, which sees a security alliance with the United States as a cornerstone of its foreign policy, has long depended on US manufacturers for military hardware.
But the conservative government has been looking to expand Japan's military influence, and has relaxed a self-imposed ban on weapons exports.
Last month, Tokyo loosened the bonds on Japan's powerful military, proclaiming the right to go into battle in defence of allies, in a highly controversial shift for the officially pacifist country.
The development of a homegrown jet comes amid worsening tensions with Beijing over rival claims to islands in the East China Sea.
Japan said last month that its military scrambled fighter jets a record 340 times in the three months to June in response to feared intrusions on its airspace.
Chinese government ships and planes have been seen off the disputed islands dozens of times since Japan nationalised some of the archipelago nearly two years ago.
Poster Comment:
MfourfourSoldier China when they get ready are going to wipe out everyone in the whole world including the cringing behind a wall Zionsit Jew and were all going to be eating rice! WWIII will be won by billions of China men and their tech is top notch and they have been selling that tech to Iran and these so-called stealth fighters cannot fly over airspace jammed with scalier harmonic jamming waves. Your NOT flying over Iran or China PERIOD! I'm happy with China waving the world like army ants at least those hook nosed #$%$ will finally be eradicated!2-2
b Boy ! If they can make that plane as reliable as a Altima or Lexus, the world is in for a serious player on the military front. There's no way Red China would be able to match the technology that Japan has been known for when it comes to projects like this. True, Japan might be small and sadly some of their people glow at night after the nuke power plant meltdowns, but they are a very clever and driven people. Red China should be pretty concerned about this fighter should it pass it's flight tests. I wish em good luck ! 36-4
John J Casey Germany had jet fighters in WWII. It did them no good. War is a numbers game and that is something China has. Technology was all in the Germans favor vs. Russia and we know how that worked out. I fought with superior technology in Vietnam and that did not work out so well. Short term technology wins but in the end it always seems to lose. Ask Iraq or ISIS.3-1
[Rodel] With all due respect Sir John J Casey, It's not just numbers and technology that war is based upon to win. You gotta have the Three Aspects as you Mentioned, The Three are namely, Tactics, Technology and Quantity. Tactics on how you deal with the Enemy to defeat them or to match them. The Technology of your Weapons and resources to defeat or destroy the enemy and Last is the Number of Manpower and resource you can spend in order to win.5
MfourfourSoldier Its funny your happy with that China made toy for your kid or that China made appliance for your kitchen or China made affordable tools for your garage. but by God that China is going to get whats coming to them! IDIOTS and FOOLS are a dime a dozen and when China makes their move Israel will finally be history and there won't be any Jesus on a white horse to save them. Sadly we have fools in the white house who are going to get our service men and women killed to protect this dirty little sand trap in the middle east called Israel. I changed my mind I will buy that Gerber knife with the 420HC steel from China! -4
Rex here comes the Toyota jet for the rest of the world. American TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN Trashy. Japan will build the jets for the rest of the world./ I am SHORTING Northrup. Boeing and GE.
Blah Also excellent is "Shanghai 1937, Stalingrad on the Yangtze". One historic fact that surprised me in that book is that the Chinese Nationalist Army had an entire German officer corp as advisors to prepare them against the Japanese invasion; unfortunately they ran short on time and money before Hitler signed a pact with Japan. 3-1
Stephen This could happen only with Obama in office. He worst president in history on foreign policy. Tatarewicz... But remember Stephen US foreign policy is determined by Tel Aviv whose agents in US determine who is elected to Congress by providing the necessary campaign organization and funding as well as coverage in media owned by Jews.
Brandon ...The new Japanese stealth fighter will use similar technology as the U.S. F-35....Yeah but it will get better gas mileage, won't break down as often, and have a higher re-sale value after five years.13-2