Mitsubishi and Lockheed Martin are building Japan's sixth-generation F-X fighter jet as part of a $10 billion program
The Japanese Ministry of Defense is working at full speed on the sixth generation Mitsubishi F-X fighter. Specialists from different countries are involved in its creation.
Here's What We Know
The Japanese company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has already started work on the new aircraft. It is helped by American manufacturer Lockheed Martin, providing technical support. The cost of the project is $10 billion. The sixth generation fighter should appear by 2035. It will replace the Mitsubishi F-2. It was adopted into service in 2000. The cost of one plane is more than $100 million. The fighter is based on the American F-16 Fighting Falcon.
The Japanese Defense Ministry is ready to involve Italian specialists to work on Mitsubishi F-X, who have experience of joint work with the British, and they, in turn, are engaged in developing an engine for the sixth generation fighter.
Flashback
Development of the engine for the aircraft began in January 2022. The project involves Rolls-Royce and Ishikawajima Heavy Industries.
Source: NHK
Image: AeroTime Hub