Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his British counterpart Boris Johnson met to discuss future fighter programmes. 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 of its next-generation fighter. This marks the first time Japan has led domestic development of a new fighter craft in 40-years.
The Nikkei newspaper reported details of Japan’s 6th-generation fighter. This aircraft is scheduled to enter service 2035. The aircraft will have stealth technology, which can optionally be manned, as well as high levels of manned/unmanned collaboration. It will fly at supersonic speeds. Hypersonic weapons are hard to track and can't be recalled after they have been fired. This aircraft will likely have a super-cruise motor, which will allow it fly at incredible speeds.
The aircraft will be equipped with a bonded framework, which means that its structure is bonded together. This will lower the overall weight. The aircraft will also be lighter and have a greater operating range. The aircraft will be likely equipped with Japanese-developed avionics engines and an engine developed by British companies.
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 well-versed in electronic warfare, and will likely work on data technology for military aircraft.
Japan plans to launch series production of F-X aircraft in 2031. The aircraft will cost about 5 trillion yen, or about $48 billion. Japan plans on building 90 more aircraft and will deploy the fighter in 2030.
The aircraft will have an integrated bonded structure, which is expected to be made of composite materials. This will help to reduce the overall weight, and it will give the air force more flexibility in air bases and operations. The aircraft will also come with heat shields. Advanced digital capabilities will be available on the aircraft as well as advanced AI capabilities. The aircraft will also feature advanced networking systems and Gallium Nitride (GaN), radars as well as AESA radios.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which will develop F-X, will design the 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. It is a high-tech aircraft with three-dimensional vectored thrust control, fly-by optics, and a 3D vectored thrust control system. It also represents the first experimental demonstration of stealth technology.
It is likely that many other companies will join the UK-Japan Partnership, including Northrup Grumman (Rolls Royce) and Northrup Grumman (Northrup Grumman). These companies have developed electronic warfare technology and air missiles, and they will partner with the Japanese company in order to develop a powerplant.