Japan’s X-2 stealth fighter makes first flight

Asia-Pacific, News April 22, 2016 , by IRIA No Comments

Japan is now the fourth nation, after the United States, Russia and China to test fly its own stealth jet

Japan has successfully flight tested its fifth generation fighter jet as the country joins a select group of world military powers wielding the radar-dodging technology.

The X-2 jet took off from Nagoya airport in central Japan on its maiden test flight, making Japan world’s fourth nation, after the United States, Russia and China to test fly its own stealth jet.

“The maiden flight was significant to secure the necessary capability for a next-generation fighter jet,” Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told media in Tokyo after the flight.

“We can expect technological innovation in the aerospace industry as well as application of that technology in different fields.”

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has raised Japan’s defence budget every year of his premiership but Japan’s stagnant economy means it is falling ever further behind China.

The X-2, developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and 200 other firms, measures 14.2 metres (47 feet) long and 9.1 metres wide and was built as a successor to F-2 fighter jets developed jointly with the United States.

The X-2 is equipped with engines from IHI Corp. and cost about 40 billion yen ($366 million) to develop, according to the ministry.

The Advanced Technology Demonstrator, called X2, took off from Nagoya airport in Aichi Prefecture at 8:47 a.m. Friday morning, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry.

The demonstrator, which will undergo a further two years of testing before a decision is made on whether to develop a homegrown next-generation stealth fighter, flew about 15 kilometers and touched down at the Air Self-Defense Force’s Gifu Air Field.

With the maiden flight of stealth fighter, Japan has become world’s fourth country to test-fly its own stealth jet, upgrading a lackluster domestic aerospace industry at a time when China continues to agitate in the region.

The category known as fifth-generation fighters began with the service entry of Lockheed Martin Corp’s F-22 Raptor in 2005, according to IHS Jane’s. The F-35 fighter, the Pentagon’s costliest weapons program, was designated ready for limited combat operations with the Marine Corps last year.

China has already conducted flights for its first self-developed stealth fighter jet, the J-20, and its J-31 stealth plane made its debut in 2014 at China’s 10th International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition. Russia successfully tested a prototype of its fifth-generation PAK FA stealth fighter in 2010.

The US, Russia and China all are developing stealth jets, which have reduced visibility to infrared sensors and can cruise at supersonic speeds.