According to information published by the “The Japan Times” website on October 31, 2020, the Japanese Ministry of Defense has selected the company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as the main contractor to develop the country’s own next-generation stealth fighter for launch in the 2030s, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said Friday, October 30, 2020.
The F-X will be a twin-engine stealth fighter that is designed for achieving air superiority. The technology and capabilities the F-X possesses will classify it as a sixth-generation fighter jet.
The Japanese MoD said the F-X will be bigger than the F-22 Raptor, American-made fifth-generation fighter aircraft. The large size indicates the MoD desires the aircraft to possess a very long range and large payload capacity. Technologies tested in the X-2 technology demonstrator will likely be incorporated into the F-X fighter. Japanese Defense Minister has stated that the F-X will possess strong network capabilities and will carry more missiles than the F-35.
To improve detection against stealth aircraft, the F-X utilizes integrated sensors. The sensors will include active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, passive radio frequency (RF) sensor, and an infrared camera. Both the AESA radar and RF sensor utilize Gallium nitride (GaN) to improve its performance. The AESA radar is based on the J/APG-2 radar used on the F-2 fighter and is similar to the AN/APG-81 radar used in the F-35.
The F-X will be fitted with an RF ‘self-defense’ system to counter aircraft, air-to-air missile and surface-to-air missile threats. The system performs both ESM and ECM by being alerted to the threat and disrupting its radio waves instantly and globally. Integrated ESM body antennas are placed along the wing and tail flap of the fighter jet.