What’s the possibility we’re getting IFX/KFX 5th prototype as rank 8/9 squadron/premium when they do actually be delivered lol?
unlikely, I doubt the prototype will be armed since the primary purpose is just to make sure the aircraft is flyable in Indonesian weather
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they already stated no weapons included
though that does not mean the prototype is incapable of doing battle if provided with munitions
That is the question if the prototype can be armed then Gaijin could add it under its rules if it cant physically be armed then no plane. :-( Since its a 4+++ it not a true 5th gen just a low observable aircraft that once it drops its munitions can slink away back to the airfield in game so it would work in this current meta without exploding the game.
For example Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin is not able to be physically armed so it cannot be added no matter how many people try to get it into the game though other means. The mods lost count how many denials they process apparently.
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KF-21 prototype 005 is seen with air-to-air missiles before, I don’t know whether they’re just dummy or they do actually have wiring for them, but Gaijin standard so far is that if the aircraft has the capability for certain weapon systems, then it could be added in-game
https://www.reddit.com/r/WarplanePorn/comments/1g5vzl3/kai_kf21_prototype_no_5album/
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If we can get it somewhat confirmed it could fire a missile then a suggestion post can be written. Though Gaijin has been liberal on things like guns and radar KF-21 likely has a weight in place of the 20mm Gaijin could just let that slide. But as long as the space exists and could be fired then it should be okay. Once the plane lands on Indonesian soil someone can type up a suggestion.
Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin is a example of Cant Cant Cant as Japan had no interest in making it a fighter though in theory they could tweak the design and have a KF-21 clone. Japan domestic 5th gen has sort of been a failure to say the least.
The X-2 itself was never meant to be a fighter, only an unarmed demonstrator for the proper (5th gen) F-X program. It was used as flying test aircraft and static RCS test model so that the data from it can be used for proper fighter development. That’s why it lacks any provisions or even space for things like weapons and radar.
X-2 also reused existing parts like T-2 landing gear and T-4 canopy
An armed version of X-2 would need significant changes. To fit a radar the pilot would need to be moved further back and weapons would only fit externally under the wings. This can also be seen on ATD-0, which was a “what-if” style aircraft made to add the X-2 to Ace Combat.
ATD-0 was made in collaboration with TRDI to make sure it is a reasonable depiction of what an armed X-2 would be. Still it was never intended to be real, only made for the game.
For the actual 5th gen project, the airframe was a lot different from the X-2. Instead there was a whole new development, including digitally designed airframe designs (eventually leading to 26DMU) and even physical prototypes for many components.
Render of the 26DMU based design for 5th gen F-X
This project also didn’t fail, but it was decided that it would be too late compared to other 5th gen projects, and that it would be more reasonable to instead shift to 6th gen development which is why it was cancelled and F-35 was bought as stopgap aircraft.
But by itself the project was already very far. If this decision had been different, these would likely be flying for the JASDF already.
Suggestion for it:
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I know the history Japan just seems to have bad luck in getting there 5th gen projects done. USA political presser to buy F-35 did not help. I remember some talk of the X-2 becoming something more but it would have had to many issues. Pilots did like flying the X-2 so it was a good aircraft at the end of the day.
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Yeah, it’s unfortunate. We can be lucky we at least got part of it
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Just enough for Gaijin to go alright you win. I really believe most of the issues came down to how the USA pushes its F-35 as they need countries to buy the plane and the extra the USA gets out of it. (the whole theoretical off switch) F-X or the Turkish TAI Kaan would be mostly immune to issues like that in theory.
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As already mentioned by others I don’t considered it a failure since it was never meant to go into production it was for testing purposes. And the program in a way lives on as it shifted over to gen 6 studies and now GCAP.
If anything the fact that they even made such a vehicle before kaan and kf-21 shows Japan could of went all in on gen 5 if they wanted to, not even Germany or U.K made anything similar other then their typhoons, shame Japan decided to switch to gen 6 studies as we would of had a fleet of domestic gen 5s by now, we have gen 6 to look forward to at least.
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Yeah, and it should be noted the reason the F-35 was chosen over it wasnt actually political pressure, but practicality.
Japan knew that even if they tried, they wouldnt be getting a domestic design into service untill around now. And the 5th F-X program was very much a matter of urgency over china fielding J-20s. So a more immediately available, existing design was probably the correct play.
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This really makes me wonder how different it could’ve been had Japan considered the export market. If there was a potential market for the 5th gen, they might not have entirely cancelled it.
In reality buying the F-35 could already fill the same gap faster for the JASDF and 6th gen development had already started in some nations so it was more reasonable to shift to that too so it would be ready in time as well. But with an export market, like the KF-21, there is demand for 5th generation aircraft that maybe could’ve been worth keeping the project around for.
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The generations is a bit of a sales advertisement anyway and not everyone agrees of what a ideal 6th gen is and its job. 3rd gen phantoms going hard being bomb trucks to this day in some nations. China is known to have two 6th gens J-50 and J-36 (maybe some say its just a if a su-34 was being designed today kind of plane). If 6th gen is drone fighter teaming then that’s a different beast that will need a twin seat to do right by some also a drone fighter (not that hard apparently)
USA from there Boeing F-47 is considered to be a very good air superiority fighter which values being well a fighter a drone command fighter like the possible J-36 might not need such abilities. Though from looks J-50 and F-47 maybe alike in goals though a twin seat J-50 would look cool not going to lie. Who know non of us have real information on 6th gen but what we have seen and some expert testimonials with some project history.
Japan and the GCAP (F-3) looks from the concepts to be a very big fighter but that’s all we know. Maybe with Chinas 6th gen stuff flying there going to change stuff or dig in but we dont know.
F-3
J-50
J-36
F-47
Loyal wingman / maybe just drone fighters are just going to eclipse 6th gen so who knows 6th gen fighter might not be as valuable as people think. Drones also have no people in them so you can do war without war stuff if you want like normal strike drones so there is that angle.
Will we see J-50 in warthunder? lol who knows.
You’re not up to date m8.
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had Japan made the change earlier 5th gen with export might have been valuable ya J-20 would be flying and the air force would have to eat a few but there is the whole you made money from it angle. Japan has one weakness though which might be export of strike packages for there aircraft as they have not really invested in ground attack by aircraft all that much to my knowledge unless there is black paper stuff they keep hidden away.
what majorly changed? I hear Italy and Japan where moving onto technology testing on flying labs.
One thing I find funny is the small chance there is some aircraft engineer watching everyone argue about 5th gen and 6th gen fighters laughing because they know the truth.
The UK’s scaled functional demonstrator is nearly complete and due roll out next year
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that will be nice to see still its a long way to the full prototype or preproduction. 6th gen is going to be strange but China did light a fire under the rear of a lot of countries to get something flying. Still the question of what 6th gen is very foggy.
FCAD is said to feature a weapons bay and test and launch weapons so I mean technically could come to wt as a stealth fighter for U.K, Japan and Italy
FCAD is the name of the tech demonstrator
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Would be funny if it becomes its own thing but it would be funny to see a mini me version.