Mitsubishi ATD-X
The Mitsubishi ATD -X Shinshin is a Japanese fighter aircraft under development. It serves as a technology demonstrator and will establish a basis for a stealth air superiority fighter. ATD -X is an acronym for Advanced Technology Demonstrator - X
Development
The development of the ATD -X began when Japan began to search for a replacement for the aging F- 15J. Just like in the United States wanted the land the F-15 is now replaced by the F -22 Raptor. The acquisition of the F -22, however, was vetoed by the U.S. Congress, who had raised earlier objection to the disclosure of military high technology. After also the license- a stripped F- 22J was rejected, Japan began with the own development of a new air superiority fighter. Since Japan has for years realized no own projects in military aviation, but always worked with U.S. support, it also brought this time Lockheed Martin as a development partner with the project. Here we drew on the positive experience of Mitsubishi F- 2, in which Lockheed Martin has been involved.
The developments are still in a very early stage. Nevertheless, have been carried out with a first mock-up of ground tests in France. Although the planning progressed quite and with production beginning in 2014, with first flight in 2016 are also amazing concretely, the basic realization is questionable. So the Defense Department had cut for the 2008 budget massively funding.
However, the model is intended to serve only the exploration of the stealth technology, mass production is not planned (more).
Construction
Although many details are still unknown, as does the construction of many of the characteristics of a fighter of the fifth generation. The participation of Lockheed Martin made many constructive similarities with the F- 22nd However, obviously a 3-D thrust vectoring planned, but probably would result in a limitation of the stealth properties. The powerplant is probably a XF5 -1 turbofan, a development of the IHI -17 prototype used. Its power should be in the range of 100 kN, at a thrust -to-weight ratio of about 8:1.