According to the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of Japan, the first flight tests of the prototype of the 5+ generation ATD-X "Sinshin" (Japanese 心神?, "Soul") stealth fighter will be carried out in 2014
The ATD-X is a highly maneuverable fighter based on modern Stealth technology. The prototype will allow, in real flight and tracking conditions, to test a number of technical solutions that can later be used to build a promising combat aircraft. ATD-X will also allow to practice many methods of countering other stealth fighters, which may well be deployed in the area of hostilities in the future.
Japan has released an official request for information on available jet engines for the national 5+ generation ATD-X Shinshin fighter. Japan is interested in purchasing jet engines for 2 prototypes of a promising fighter. The main condition is the requirement for the power of power plants, it must be at least 44-89 kN in non-afterburner mode. Among the companies in whose engine models Japan has shown significant interest are Volvo Aero with RM12, General Electric with F404, Snecma with M88-2. These engines are currently used in the Dassault Rafale, Boeing F / A-18 Super Hornet and Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighters.
Previously, Japan planned to purchase 5+ generation F-22 Raptor fighters from the United States, but their export was vetoed by the US Congress. As a result, in 2004, Japan began funding its own 5+ generation fighter development program, the work on which was entrusted to Mitsubishi. The first Shinshin aircraft was tested for reflectivity in 2005 in France. The technical characteristics of the future fighter are still unknown. According to the announced plans, the aircraft will be equipped with a radar with an active antenna array, jet engines with variable thrust vector and a fiber-optic remote control complex.
It is expected that as part of the ATD-X program, most of the components for the fighter will be manufactured in Japan. Japanese industry, and in large part Mitsubishi Heavy Industry (MHI), which assembles the Japanese version of the F-16C / D (F-2) fighter under license from Lockheed Martin, is seeking a license to manufacture a new aircraft with the aim of the creation of additional jobs and the introduction of technologies for the creation of modern fighters.
Meanwhile, Japan is planning to announce a tender for the purchase of fighters for the national air force in the near future. Among the candidates are Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, F / A-18E / F and Eurofighter Typhoon.
According to preliminary information, the Japanese Ministry of Defense plans to purchase 12 aircraft at the first stage. In the future, the volume of purchases may well increase to 42 aircraft. As previously reported, the F-4EJ Phantom-2 Kai fighter is planned to be decommissioned starting in 2015. Tokyo expects that the main contenders will submit their real proposals by the end of September this year. According to the results of the tender, the Ministry of Defense plans to send a request for the allocation of the first tranche of funds for the purchase of F-X fighters within the budget for the 2012 fiscal year, according to preliminary estimates, the adoption of the aircraft into service is planned for 2016.
