Japan's Prime minister Shinzo Abe met with his counterpart Boris Johnson in the United Kingdom to discuss cooperation on future fighter programme development. They are expected sign a Memorandum of Cooperation that will enable them to exchange technologies and work together on future air and missile programmes. Japan also revealed details about its next-generation fighter. This is the first time that Japan has led the development of a new fighter craft domestically in 40 years.
According to the Nikkei newspaper details were revealed about Japan's 6th-generation fighter. The aircraft will enter service in 2035. The aircraft will employ stealth technologies, with the option of being manned, and offer high levels in manned-unmanned partnership. The aircraft will reach speeds of up to hypersonic range. Hypersonic weapons are hard to track and can't be recalled after they have been fired. It will likely come with a supercruise engine that will enable it to fly at incredible speeds.
The aircraft is expected to come with a bonded structure, which means that the structure of the aircraft is bonded together. This will reduce aircraft weight. It will also have a lighter weight and a wider operating range. It will likely have avionics and engines from Japan, as well as a British-developed powerplant.
The UK-Japan partnership will include the development of a joint air-to-air missile program. Japan is well-versed in component technology research and will likely collaborate with British company BAE Systems. This company is a major aerospace and defense company. They are skilled in electronic warfare. They will likely work together on data technology that can be used to build military aircraft.
Japan hopes to begin serial production in 2031. Japan has had the F-X program since the 1950s. The aircraft is expected to cost around 5 trillion Japanese yen, which amounts to approximately $48 billion. Japan will build 90 aircraft and be ready to deploy fighters in the 2030s.
It will feature an integrated bonded structure that is likely to be made from composite materials. This will allow for a reduction in weight and will provide more flexibility to the air force when it comes to operations and bases. Heat shields will be installed on the aircraft. The aircraft will have an advanced digital capability, as well as advanced AI capabilities. The aircraft will also have advanced networking systems, Gallium Nitride (GaN) radars, and AESA radars.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will create the F-X program. The company's stealth airplane X2 (which flew its first flight on April 2016) is an example how such a program can be built. This high-tech aircraft features three-dimensional vectored propeller control, fly-by optics and a 3D thrust control system. It is also the first demonstration of experimental stealth technology.
Other companies will be involved in the UK-Japan collaboration, including Northrup Grumman as well as Rolls Royce. These companies have expertise in developing air-to-air missiles and electronic warfare technology, and they will work with the Japanese company to develop a powerplant.