By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization
The US operates the F-22 and F-35 …. China operates the J-31 and J-20….and Russia flies its Su-57 …. Which one of these is the best? Who else has stealth? The global stealth equation today is even more complex given that the US, Russia, China, Japan and a European team are all now building a new generation of stealth with 6th-generation fighters as well.
How do the best efforts to engineer stealth fighter jet platforms compare to one another and, in terms of performance, how will countries new to stealth construction and engineering compare?
Stealth effectiveness is certainly not something easy to replicate, as many of the variables require complex engineering and a blend of technologies such as radar absorbent materials, thermal management systems, seamless, blended wing-body configurations less likely to generate a return signature and specific buried engine technologies.
Who else has stealth? Very interesting to observe that several countries may now be joining the small group of stealth-capable militaries such as Japan, South Korea, Iran and India.
Japan Mitsubishi F-X
An interesting write up in Aero Corner says Japan plans to unveil a prototype new 6th-generation stealth fighter platform in 2024 called the Mitsubishi F-X. The write up says the F-X, nicknamed Godzilla, will have X-2 (previous japanese stealth fighter) capabilities and carry more missiles than the F-35. Released images or renderings of the F-X resemble interesting F-22-like flat, rounded fuselage configurations and dual-engine exhaust structures. The Japanese aircraft, however, has an even more blended wing-body flat-like fuselage which looks both smooth and very horizontal in an apparent effort to reduce radar signature or cross section. Large scale production of the F-X is slated for 2031, and the new aircraft will ultimately replace the existing Japanese Mitsubisih F-2. It would make sense if the Mitsubishi F-X resembled the F-22 to a certain extent given that it came to exist in concept in the late 1990s when it was decided that the US would not export the F-22.
Radar sends electromagnetic pings to bounce off an object, and the more sharp edges, contours, jagged-edges or angles such as vertical structures, the greater the return signal, meaning a radar system will be able to receive an accurate rendering of the shape, size and even speed of an object or platform. Blended wing-body horizontal formations, with few or no protruding visible structures such as tail fins of weapons pylons, do not generate a distinct or identifiable return rendering due to the absence of shaped structures for electromagnetic pings to bounce off. Therefore, a huge stealth platform such as a B-2 or B-21 are built to appear as though they are as small and indistinguishable as a bird to enemy radar.
Very little additional information is available about the Mitsubishi F-X in terms of its stealth properties, weapons, computing or sensing, so there are certainly many remaining questions.
However, Japan is likely very advanced technologically in many respects as the Japanese Self-Defense Forces are also collaborating with Italy and the UK on an emerging 6th-generation aircraft called the Global Air Combat Program (GACP).
A statement from Italy, Japan, and the UK when GACP was announced made it clear the platform was intended to support both Europe and the Pacific. The three-country statement also emphasized interoperability, something which would clearly build upon existing success with the F-35s Multi-function Advanced Data Link technology linking F-35s from all countries to one another. This is something a 6th-generation aircraft would likely be integrated with.
“Future interoperability with the United States, with NATO and with our partners across Europe, the Indo-Pacific and globally – is reflected in the name we have chosen for our program. This concept will be at the center of its development,” the statement said.
This seems extremely critical, as should new 6th-generation aircraft succeed in networking effectively with the growing multi-national force of F-35s and other NATO platforms, operational capacity will be exponentially expanded across NATO the US and Japan.
Kris Osborn is the President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization and the Defense Editor for the National Interest. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
