That is the Fuji proposal.
This is the Mitsubishi one.
5 Likes
That camo goes hard
“We have XF-22 at home”
1 Like
It's probably the least F-22ish of them all
We might actually be able to see 26DMU in game (fuselage, weapons bay and radar cover/nose cone built for it, engines, TVC and radar also prototyped but not exclusive), though the others are a bit more difficult.
Sadly 24DMU is the hardest to justify, but at least we’ll be able to get a nice two-tone blue stealth aircraft
1 Like
that would be the X-2 Shinshin
would be nice to get this little cutie as a event vehicle or something
6 Likes
3 Likes
if i recall the current X-2 is a tech demonstrator, however given there is kitbashed/fictional implementation’s/semi historical X-2 could be added as such
like everything that came out of the project that gave us the F-2 was amazing. As much as the F-2 is one of my favourite aircraft, I’d loved to see some of the other models come to life with it.
3 Likes
Honestly I wouldn’t be surprised if most/all it gets rolled into GCAP, while the UK has experience of designing stealth aircraft, they’ve never gotten past the radar signature testing/wind tunnel, Italy has little to no experience, but Japan has practical experience from local F-35 production and a respectable back catalogue to develop from, even if that back catalogue isn’t all complete airframes.
3 Likes
Some News to share; upgrades for F-2, F-15 (?) and F-35A are planned for some Airframes (8, ? and 7) in order to be euipped with new Long-Range weapons. The Type-12 SSM (Air-Launched for F-2) and JSM (F-35A) will be integraded. Unknown upgraded F-15s (maybe JSI ?) will receive JASSM.
(Generally a new publishment unveils a lot of new orders, these are just the most interesting ones; incl. 12 new Type 10 tanks, unsure whether these will have APS or not though)
6 Likes
iirc Boeing already had a contract to support F-15JSI Development and give it AGM-158 JASSM, so likely that
Boeing’s render, w/ 8 AIM-120 + JASSM
4 Likes
F-15J能力向上 means F-15JSI. So yes it will have JASSM
3 Likes
Now that’s what I like to hear.
2 Likes
At least as far as the game is concerned “unfinished prototypes” are valid, even if the devs like to be very inconsistent with them (sometimes refusing them, sometimes adding completely fictional vehicles instead)
For Japan there’s interesting possibilities:
Mitsubishi's domestic FS-X (JF-210)
Mitsubishi’s entry for FS-X, winning the competition against the Kawasaki design and almost being produced, if it wasn’t for heavy political pressure from the US forcing the cancellation of the domestic design.
Instead, foreign aircraft were proposed, and ultimately Japan settled on joint development based on one of these foreign designs, General Dynamics SX-3. This would then become the F-2.
The radar arrays for the JF-210 were prototyped, as well as a wing structure. It was set to use two F404-GE-402 engines, but I’m not sure if any were bought before the cancellation.
Mitsubishi F-X 23DMU
The initial “proper” design for Japan’s 5th generation fighter program, and the closest it can get to an "armed X-2, as that was the testbed to go along with this project.
Notable progress on it includes prototyped XF9-1 engines and XVN3-1 3D TVC system.
Mitsubishi F-X 25DMU
Another one of the F-X DMU designs, this time quite a bit larger. This one featured dsitinctly angled elevators and swept wings, but also a completely new, larger main weapons bay.
However it also retained the side bay design from the previous designs, storing SRMs in weapons bays placed between the wing and fuselage, just in front of the landing gear.
The main weapons bay for this design was built and tested.
Yes, this means 24DMU was skipped, sadly I couldn’t find any physical prototype parts introduced with it, let alone unique and vehicle specific parts.
Mitsubishi F-X 26DMU
The final iteration of 5th gen F-X, and the place where all the prototyped technologies converge. The engines, radar, TVC and even main weapons bay converge in this design.
However it was also changed quite a lot, sporting a more conventional trapezoidal wing, non-angled elevators and side weapons bays set in the fuselage akin to an F-22.
It’s also commonly featured in this cool blue camo, which is a very unique and interesting choice.
The prototype here is significantly more vehicle specific, being the center fuselage of the aircraft (note the side weapons bays).
A radar and “stealth” radome was also developed for either 25DMU or 26DMU (it would’ve been the same either way) but since I don’t know when exactly that slots in so I’ll just mention it here to be safe.
Maybe since it’s all one (somewhat) linear development of the same project up to 26DMU, chances are only 26DMU counts as the final version of 5th gen F-X anyways.
This alongside the fact that all of the previous components like XF9-1 engines, XVN3-1 3D TVC and main weapons bay remained unchanged for 26DMU might just make this the only viable 5th gen F-X option for the game.
Also there's the completed prototype
8 Likes
These are different parts right? The 2nd image isn’t just one half of the 1st?
1 Like
Yes, they are different parts. Though the second one is just a smaller piece from the same section of fuselage, likely an earlier structural prototype.
3 Likes
Ah, I see. It looked similar hence my confusion. Man it’s a shame they never went further with 26DMU, maybe we’ll see a similar design in GCAP. As AblativeKitten said above, it seems that japan is the only country that has any experience in designing a stealth fighter *from the GCAP nations.
5 Likes
BAE have a early 2000s design study and modelling study called Replica, however didn’t go anywhere as the Government was more interested in the “cheaper” F-35 / JSF, never got developed as far as Japanese designs though.
Bares a remarkable resemblance to the 24DMU and YF-23
Honestly though Id love some more partially constructed prototypes, theres some extremely interesting stuff to come if Gaijin loosen the rules, personally I’d be hyped for the supersonic harrier and F-X XXDMU series.
3 Likes
TIL that Gaijin used the Japanese F-15J(M) base model for other nation F-15C.
not that i expect Gaijin not to C&P similar vehicle model, but just didn’t expect they use Japanese one
5 Likes