美空军时报网站-日本将于2014年开始生产隐形战斗机

Japan to build stealth fighter jets by 2014
By Mari Yamaguchi - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Dec 7, 2007 16:24:53 EST
   
TOKYO — Japan will develop its own stealth fighter jets to compete against the rapidly advancing Chinese air force and other threats to its air defenses, officials said.

Japan’s air force has been searching for replacements for its aging fleet of F-4s and F-15s. But its hopes to purchase F-22s from Washington have been hindered by a U.S. Congress export ban and its reluctance to share sensitive military technology with foreign governments.

The key part of the six-year project, to be launched officially next April, involves developing an XF5-1 engine that would allow a fighter jet to be both highly maneuverable and cruise at supersonic speeds, according to the Japanese defense ministry.

“We need fighters that are fitted with highly advanced technology, considering what’s been developed in other countries,” the ministry said in a recent statement. “It is a crucial project in developing fighters that will play a key role in our future fleet and build our space defense.”

Defense officials hope to have a test flight of the prototype, unofficially nicknamed “Shinshin,” or Spirit, by the end of March 2014. The entire project is expected to cost $419.8 million.

The ministry has requested a $141.4 million budget for the initial year, pending government approval, a spokesman said Thursday, on condition he not be named.

Maneuverability and supersonic speeds mean that a jet can go faster, longer, and a radar-evading stealth design makes it harder to detect.

Having homegrown stealth capabilities, rather than relying on foreign imports for key military technology, would also serve as a deterrent and boost national security “in the face of stealth development in China and Russia,” the spokesman said.

Russia is aiming to create a fifth-generation attack fighter by around 2015 as part of its modernization and restructuring of its military.

China has already unveiled its J-10 fighter, which is believed to be one of the most advanced used by any air force in the world today. Beijing is believed to be developing upgraded models, the J-12 and J-14, with stealth capabilities.

Stealth development is part of Japan’s efforts in recent years to build up its air defenses.

Tokyo has made ballistic missile defense a top priority after North Korea launched a long-range “Taepodong” missile over its main island in 1998; North Korea has also launched several spy satellites.
日本将于2014年开始生产隐形战斗机

美“空军时报”网站：日本官员近表示，为了抵御发展迅速的中国空军和其他国家空军的威胁，日本将在2014年起开始生产隐形战斗机以替换现役老旧的F-4和F-15战斗机。日本曾经试图购买美制F-22隐形战斗机，但被美国国会以出口限制和技术泄漏为由而拒绝。为此，日本将于明年四月开始自制隐形战斗机的六年计划，其中包括自行研制可使战斗机超音速巡航的XF5-1发动机。防卫省希望，2014年3月底自制的名为“精神”原型机将进行首飞，并开始一系列的试飞工作。该隐型战斗机研制总计划投资4.198亿美元，为此防卫省已经申请了第一年1.41亿美元的先期资金。

Japan to build stealth fighter jets by 2014
By Mari Yamaguchi - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Dec 7, 2007 16:24:53 EST
   
TOKYO — Japan will develop its own stealth fighter jets to compete against the rapidly advancing Chinese air force and other threats to its air defenses, officials said.

Japan’s air force has been searching for replacements for its aging fleet of F-4s and F-15s. But its hopes to purchase F-22s from Washington have been hindered by a U.S. Congress export ban and its reluctance to share sensitive military technology with foreign governments.

The key part of the six-year project, to be launched officially next April, involves developing an XF5-1 engine that would allow a fighter jet to be both highly maneuverable and cruise at supersonic speeds, according to the Japanese defense ministry.

“We need fighters that are fitted with highly advanced technology, considering what’s been developed in other countries,” the ministry said in a recent statement. “It is a crucial project in developing fighters that will play a key role in our future fleet and build our space defense.”

Defense officials hope to have a test flight of the prototype, unofficially nicknamed “Shinshin,” or Spirit, by the end of March 2014. The entire project is expected to cost $419.8 million.

The ministry has requested a $141.4 million budget for the initial year, pending government approval, a spokesman said Thursday, on condition he not be named.

Maneuverability and supersonic speeds mean that a jet can go faster, longer, and a radar-evading stealth design makes it harder to detect.

Having homegrown stealth capabilities, rather than relying on foreign imports for key military technology, would also serve as a deterrent and boost national security “in the face of stealth development in China and Russia,” the spokesman said.

Russia is aiming to create a fifth-generation attack fighter by around 2015 as part of its modernization and restructuring of its military.

China has already unveiled its J-10 fighter, which is believed to be one of the most advanced used by any air force in the world today. Beijing is believed to be developing upgraded models, the J-12 and J-14, with stealth capabilities.

Stealth development is part of Japan’s efforts in recent years to build up its air defenses.

Tokyo has made ballistic missile defense a top priority after North Korea launched a long-range “Taepodong” missile over its main island in 1998; North Korea has also launched several spy satellites.
日本将于2014年开始生产隐形战斗机

美“空军时报”网站：日本官员近表示，为了抵御发展迅速的中国空军和其他国家空军的威胁，日本将在2014年起开始生产隐形战斗机以替换现役老旧的F-4和F-15战斗机。日本曾经试图购买美制F-22隐形战斗机，但被美国国会以出口限制和技术泄漏为由而拒绝。为此，日本将于明年四月开始自制隐形战斗机的六年计划，其中包括自行研制可使战斗机超音速巡航的XF5-1发动机。防卫省希望，2014年3月底自制的名为“精神”原型机将进行首飞，并开始一系列的试飞工作。该隐型战斗机研制总计划投资4.198亿美元，为此防卫省已经申请了第一年1.41亿美元的先期资金。