X-2 Shinshin
X-2 during its maiden flight
Role Stealth experimental technology demonstrator
National origin Japan
Manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
First flight 22 April 2016[1]
Introduction 2016
Status Completed
Primary user Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Produced 2009-2016
Number built 1 prototype
Developed into Global Combat Air Programme

The Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin (三菱 X-2 心神, formerly the ATD-X) is a Japanese experimental aircraft for testing advanced stealth fighter aircraft technologies. It is being developed by the Japanese Ministry of Defense Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI) for research purposes. The main contractor of the project is Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Many consider this aircraft to be Japan's first domestically made stealth fighter. ATD-X is an abbreviation for "Advanced Technology Demonstrator – X". The aircraft is widely known in Japan as Shinshin (心神, meaning "mind" or "spirit.")[2][3][4] although the name itself is an early code name within the Japan Self-Defense Forces and is not officially in use.[5][6][7] The aircraft's first flight was on 22 April 2016.

The success of this development test prototype has led to the start-up of the Mitsubishi F-X sixth-generation fighter program.

Development

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, Japan, seeking to replace its ageing fleet of fighter aircraft, began making overtures to the United States on the topic of purchasing several Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighters.[8] However the U.S. Congress had banned the exporting of the aircraft in order to safeguard secrets of the aircraft's technology such as its extensive use of stealth; this rejection necessitated Japan to develop its own modern fighter, to be equipped with stealth features and other advanced systems.

A radio-controlled 1/5 scale model made its first flight in 2006 to gain data on performance at high angles of attack and to test new sensory equipment and self-repairing flight control systems.[9]

Following these preliminary steps, the decision was taken in 2007 to push ahead with the multi billion-yen project. At the time of this decision, production was forecast to start roughly 10 years later, around 2017. In 2007, the ATD-X was expected to conduct its maiden flight in 2014.[10] In 2011, the maiden flight was projected to take place in 2014 or 2015.[11]

Model of ATD-X

The 40 billion yen construction project in the Mitsubishi's Komaki South Plant began in 2009 under the supervision of the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) of the Defense Ministry.[12][13] In July 2014, the TRDI (Technical Research & Development Institute) released the first official photos of the ATD-X prototype, and stated that the aircraft was undergoing ground testing. The fighter prototype was expected to be fully developed by 2018.[14] The ATD-X program will then lead to the Mitsubishi F-3, which should carry sixth-generation technology, and is expected to be produced in 2027.[15]

The ATD-X prototype was officially unveiled on 29 January 2016. The aircraft's first flight was expected the following month;[16][17] it carried the X-2 official military designation at the unveiling.[18]

The X-2 made its maiden flight on 22 April 2016 taking off from Nagoya Airfield and landing at the JASDF's Gifu Air Field after a 26-minute flight.[19] The unusually prolonged period between structural completion and first flight has not been fully explained. The Jiji News Agency reported that the X-2 has a take-off weight of 13,000 kg (28,700 lb); Japanese media reported its weight as nine tonnes (9,000 kg; 20,000 lb), heavy for a demonstrator of these dimensions 9.1 metres (30 ft) span and 14.2 metres (47 ft) long.[20]

In late-November 2017, ATLA announced that the X-2's testing will be concluded in March 2018. Of the time of the reporting the X-2 has completed 34 sorties out of the original 50 planned flights.[21]

By July 2018, Japan had gleaned sufficient information from flight tests for a determination, and decided that it would need to bring on-board international partners to complete this project. Several companies have responded. Lockheed Martin reportedly offered an updated version of the F-22 Raptor. British based BAE Systems also entered talks about which little is yet reported (see Global Combat Air Programme). Third to enter the competition was Northrop Grumman and there was speculation that it would offer a modernized version of the YF-23 to Japan.[22]

Significance

The X-2's development and maiden flight allowed Japan to become the fourth nation in the world to develop and test-fly their own stealth jet (after the United States, Russia and China), revitalize Japan's defense and aerospace industry, and stay competitive with regional powers China and South Korea that are also developing their own stealth fighter.[19] Prior to the X-2 and the 2014 easing of arms export Japan's defense industry stagnated because of the arms export ban prevented Japan from exporting weapons or participate in any joint development with another country, with the exception being the United States. This in turn slows the growth of Japan's defense industry and similarly effects the aerospace industry as the lack of military aircraft development means that procurement of certain aircraft are sought elsewhere from foreign defense contractors. The X-2 is thus seen with potential to reinvigorate Japan's aerospace and defense industry. According to Hideaki Watanabe, head of the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), the X-2 can be used to give Japan more bargaining power in future joint development projects because of its technological advancement.[19] There is also potential that technologies developed from the X-2 can be transferred and used for civilian applications as the Mitsubishi F-2 has done prior. The F-2 (although its development is controversial) introduced the first usage of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and AESA radar on a fighter aircraft. CFRP material would later be used for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and while the AESA radar technology would help produce electronic toll collection system.[23]

Design

Mitsubishi ATD-X

The X-2 will be used as a technology demonstrator and research prototype to determine whether domestic advanced technologies for a fifth generation fighter aircraft are viable.[24] The aircraft features 3-D thrust vectoring capability. Thrust is controlled in the ATD-X by three paddles on each engine nozzle similar to the system used on the Rockwell X-31, while an axis-symmetric thrust vectoring engine is also being developed for the full-scale production model.[24]

Among the planned features of the X-2 is a fly-by-optics flight control system, which by replacing traditional wires with optical fibers, allows data to be transferred faster and with immunity to electromagnetic disturbance.[24]

Its radar will be an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar called the 'Multifunction RF Sensor', which is intended to have broad spectrum agility, capabilities for electronic countermeasures (ECM), electronic support measures (ESM), communications functions, and possibly even microwave weapon functions.[24]

A further feature will be a so-called 'Self Repairing Flight Control Capability' (自己修復飛行制御機能), which will allow the aircraft to automatically detect failures or damage in its flight control surfaces, and using the remaining control surfaces, calibrate accordingly to retain controlled flight.[9]

The X-2 was equipped with two IHI Corporation XF5 engines for the test flights.[25]

To minimize its radar cross-section (RCS), the X-2's body is designed to have even surfaces and eliminate seam joints. The radiation-absorbent material (RAM) used on the body is reportedly a composite material consisting of ceramic and silicon carbide and is developed by Ube Industries, while the cockpit windshield is coated with a special tin alloy. The aircraft incorporates a serpentine shaped air intake duct to further suppress radar reflection. According to Hideaki Miwa of the Defense Ministry's procurement agency, the X-2's RCS is "no bigger than a giant beetle viewed from tens of kilometers away".[23]

Specifications (X-2)

Data from Miyakawa et al, 2008;[9][26] Jane's Defence Weekly[27]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 14.174 m (46 ft 6 in)
  • Wingspan: 9.099 m (29 ft 10 in)
  • Height: 4.514 m (14 ft 10 in)
  • Empty weight: 9,700 kg (21,385 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × IHI XF5-1 low-bypass turbofans, 49.03 kN (11,023 lbf) with afterburner

Performance

  • Maximum speed: Mach 2.25, (Mach 1.28 supercruise)
  • Range: 2,900 km (1,800 mi, 1,566 nmi)
  • Combat range: 761 km (473 mi, 411 nmi)
  • Ferry range: 3,200 km (1,988 mi, 1,728 nmi)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

  1. ↑ Japan's Stealth Jet Makes First Flight as Abe Boosts Defense
  2. ↑ "国産ステルス機2月離陸　独創究めた「消える機体」" (in Japanese). The Nikkei. 8 February 2016
  3. ↑ "日本心神 横山大観" (in Japanese). Cultural Heritage Online, National Institute of Informatics (NII). Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  4. ↑ Takahashi, Kosuke (April 20, 2014). "平成のゼロ戦､「心神」が年内初飛行へ" [The first flight of the "Shinshin", a Zero fighter of the Heisei era, by the end of this year]. Toyo Keizai (in Japanese).
  5. ↑ Gifu Test Center, Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA)
  6. ↑ Press Release, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
  7. ↑ Lockheed & Mitsubishi’s F-2 Fighter may be replaced with ATD-X
  8. ↑ "Mitsubishi ATD-X ShinShin a Japanese Stealth Fighter". Defence Aviation. 11 January 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
  9. 1 2 3 Miyakawa; et al. "Research of Flight Control System for High Maneuver Aircraft" (PDF). 三菱重工技報. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  10. ↑ "Japan to build stealth fighter jets by 2014". Air Force Times. 7 December 2007. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  11. ↑ "Photos of ATD-X Japan's Stealth Jet". defensetech.org.
  12. ↑ "Japan unveils 1st domestic-made stealth plane". Japan Today. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  13. ↑ "三菱重工、国産ステルス戦闘機「X-2」の飛行試験機を初公開" (in Japanese). marketnewsline. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  14. ↑ Technical Research and Development Institute (12 July 2014). "先進技術実証機の現況". mod.go.jp. Archived from the original on 16 July 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  15. ↑ Bradley Perrett (22 October 2012). "Japan Aims To Launch F-3 Development In 2016-17". AW&ST. The McGraw-Hill Companies. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  16. ↑ Waldron, Greg (29 January 2016). "ATD-X to spur Japan's advanced fighter research". Flightglobal. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  17. ↑ Japan Unveils New 5th Generation Stealth Fighter Jet. Accessed 30 January 2016.
  18. ↑ "Japan unveils the X-2, country's first stealth fighter jet". Asia Times. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  19. 1 2 3 Mei, Ayako (22 April 2016). "Japan becomes fourth nation to test-fly homegrown stealth jet". The Japan Times.
  20. ↑ "MHI X-2 Fighter-Technology Demonstrator Makes First Flight". Aviation Week. 28 April 2016.
  21. ↑ Waldron, Greg (29 November 2017). "Tokyo to conclude X-2 programme in March 2018". Flight Global. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  22. ↑ Mizokami, Kyle "Now Northrop Grumman Wants to Build Japan's New Fighter Jet" Popular Mechanics, 10 July 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  23. 1 2 Uesaka, Yoshifumi (25 February 2016). "Japan's stealth fighter promises more than military defense". Nikkei Asian Review. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  24. 1 2 3 4 "Japanese Military Technology Advances". International Assessment and Strategy Center. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  25. ↑ . Flightglobal.com
  26. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-22. Retrieved 2021-07-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  27. ↑ Jennings, Gareth (27 January 2016). "Japan prepares for ATD-X maiden flight". Jane's Defence Weekly. Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group. 53 (12). ISSN 0265-3818.
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