Tokyo has reaffirmed its plan for a 2014 first flight of its experimental Mitsubishi ATD-X Shinshin stealth demonstrator, while it also considers three fighters for its F-X requirement.
"The first flight of the ATD-X is scheduled in Japan fiscal year 2014," said Japan's defence ministry.
"The ATD-X is a trial product of a high-manoeuvrability stealth aircraft adopting various state-of-the-art technologies that may be applied to future fighters, and confirm and verify the practicality and operational effectiveness of systems under various flight conditions," said the ministry.
"It is also intended for the study of air defence against stealth fighters that might be deployed in the neighbouring region in the future."
Japan unveiled the first full-sized mock-up of the ATD-X at Japan Aerospace 2008. Many observers, noting the immense costs and risks in developing an indigenous fighter, have speculated that the project was a bargaining chip to help Tokyo gain access to the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, which Washington steadfastly refused to sell to its Pacific ally.
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First Flight OF Japanese Stealth Fighter ATD-X in 2014 ~ ASIAN DEFENCE NEWS
"The first flight of the ATD-X is scheduled in Japan fiscal year 2014," said Japan's defence ministry.
"The ATD-X is a trial product of a high-manoeuvrability stealth aircraft adopting various state-of-the-art technologies that may be applied to future fighters, and confirm and verify the practicality and operational effectiveness of systems under various flight conditions," said the ministry.
"It is also intended for the study of air defence against stealth fighters that might be deployed in the neighbouring region in the future."
Japan unveiled the first full-sized mock-up of the ATD-X at Japan Aerospace 2008. Many observers, noting the immense costs and risks in developing an indigenous fighter, have speculated that the project was a bargaining chip to help Tokyo gain access to the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, which Washington steadfastly refused to sell to its Pacific ally.
follow link for detail news ....
First Flight OF Japanese Stealth Fighter ATD-X in 2014 ~ ASIAN DEFENCE NEWS
