Japan’s first stealth fighter jet yesterday successfully took to the skies as the country joins a select group of world military powers wielding the radar-dodging technology.
Technological superpower Japan, despite strict constitutional constraints on the use of military force imposed after World War II, has one of the world’s most advanced defense forces and the development of the stealth fighter comes as it faces new security challenges in the form of China’s growing assertive military posture.
The domestically developed X-2 jet took off from Nagoya Airfield in central Japan on its maiden test flight as dozens of aviation enthusiasts watching the event erupted in applause as it lifted off into the clear morning sky.
TV footage showed the red-and-white aircraft roaring into the air, escorted by two Japanese military fighters that were collecting flight data.
The single-seat prototype safely landed at Gifu Air Field, north of the Nagoya airport, after a 25-minute flight with “no particular problems,” an official at the Japanese Ministry of Defense’s procurement agency said.
It was an “extremely stable” flight, the pilot was quoted as saying by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the main contractor.
“The control of the aircraft went exactly as in our simulated training sessions,” the pilot added.
The inaugural flight, which followed extensive ground tests, had been postponed due to bad weather and malfunctions of parts used in its escape system.
“The first flight has a very significant meaning that can secure technologies needed for future fighter development,” Japanese Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani told reporters.
“We also expect it can be applied to other fields and technological innovation in the entire aviation industry,” Nakatani added.
The X-2, developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and 200 other firms, measures 14.2m long and 9.1m wide and was built as a successor to F-2 jets developed jointly with the US.
Its delivery to the ministry is expected as early as next month and the procurement agency “will continue analyzing data and check its stealth technology capability,” the agency official told reporters.
Only the US, Russia and China have been internationally recognized as having successfully developed and flown piloted stealth jets, the agency said.
Japan began the project in 2009 and has reportedly spent about ¥39.4 billion (US$356.24 million) to develop the aircraft.
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