Japan leads development of 6th generation fighter with Mitsubishi FX

The development was no secret, but the speed of progress has raised expectations. This is a class of military aircraft that will put the island nation at the forefront of military operations in Asia.

1. Japan went through a challenging time in the early 2000s, when the United States banned exports of the F-22 Raptor, considered the most advanced fighter jet to date, and the country had no viable option for a fifth-generation fighter, only the American F-35 stealth fighter, coveted around the world and currently competed for by 40 countries. Japan has bought or ordered 147 of its two variants, but largely to make up for development gaps.
2. The top brass in Tokyo decided to catapult itself to the next level with an 'indigenous' model. As a result, the Mitsubishi FX programme was launched and the FX multirole fighter was born. The Japanese strategy has the undisguised goal of containing China in the Indo-Pacific region as a member of the QUAD organization, in partnership with the US, India and Australia.
3. Of course, other nations, including the US, Russia and China, are also pushing for this new stage of development. However, with the introduction of the FX, it became a realistic possibility that Japan would be the first of them to be able to deploy and mass produce this class.

All of this is expected to happen early in the next decade, when the other major players will not have finished development. For the sake of historical memory, the Japanese fighters that raided Pearl Harbor in 1941, the Zeros, were also built by Mitsubishi.

Others helped Japan make its way
In 2022, three nations (Japan, the UK and Italy) embarked on a joint air strategy collaboration called GCAP (Global Combat Air Program). This plan allowed Mitsubishi to take advantage of British capabilities in digital flight control and stealth combat, as well as Italy's achievements in radar development and network-centric warfare.

In this sense, the FX is also a joint success of the three countries, indicating that cooperation between nations with medium military power can reduce the industrial superiority of the great powers (the US, Russia, China).

1. What does the Mitsubishi FX do?
   It has the ability to simultaneously fight in the air and on the ground against multiple adversaries and targets, setting a new benchmark for fighter aircraft around the world. The weapon employs the best stealth technology known to date, with newly designed special composite materials and optimized structural shaping to reduce the radar cross section, making it virtually invisible to the enemy.
2. According to the designers, its stealth capability (detectability, visibility) will be the best in the world, while Russia is only 11th in this regard with its Sukhoi-57 (Felon), meaning it is supposed to be visible to the most advanced radars.
3. Other capabilities of the FX are artificial intelligence (AI) warfare and autonomous combat. AI provides real-time combat scenarios, taking into account all ground and air threats, including drones. The result is that the best decision options appear on the pilot's internal helmet monitor in a fraction of a second.
4. Meanwhile, the unit commander can simultaneously see the external-internal positions of the rest of the squadron, such as how many and what weapons each has left, improving the chances of a group attack and sparing the airframe unnecessary risks. The machine achieves hypersonic and laser weapons integration, meaning it can simultaneously fire missiles at speeds of Mach 5 while shooting down incoming missiles. To do this, the machine uses a 360-degree sensor system.
5. Firing and defensive security are supported by a data fusion system that combines information from multiple sources to improve situational awareness and combat effectiveness. In addition, pilots can see through the body of the aircraft using helmet-mounted displays, meaning they can also detect the combat situation by eye.

The fantasy image below shows the FX's multi-functional simultaneous combat capability, performing both offensive and defensive roles.

To power the aircraft, Japanese development engineers have built a new generation of adaptive cycle engines that continuously adjust power output to speed and fuel efficiency.

Unlike conventional jet engines, the FX is able to optimally switch between high speed and efficient fuel consumption. This increases combat endurance without the need for frequent refueling. This is not possible with current types.

1. Not cheap, but it pays off
   The fundamental aim of the FX fighter is to change the balance of power in the global aerospace industry, especially in competition with China. Beijing's J-20 Mighty Dragon fighter is a serious challenge in the Far East theatre of war, but Mitsubishi's development removes this threat and offers Japan air dominance. There is also a significant economic impact, as it strengthens Japan's defence industry, creates thousands of jobs and curbs the cost of foreign arms imports.
2. Tokyo has so far invested more than $48 billion in the development of the FX, the most expensive military project in the country's history. The program is expected to boost Japanese GDP and open new chapters in aeronautical engineering, software development and materials research. Through partnerships with the UK and Italy, Japan will gain access to European aerospace technologies, further strengthening the national defense sector.
3. Another important aspect is that, through European partners, Japan will also be better connected and integrated into NATO plans, as a quasi-eastern arm of the alliance. It should be noted that South Korea is also attempting to play this role.

The introduction of the Mitsubishi FX is one of the greatest advances in modern air power, and could make Japan a world leader in military aviation. Its arrival will have an obvious impact on military strategy, and the world's military chiefs will be watching closely to see how this UFO-like fighter transforms the logic of war.