Japan Test Stealth Aircraft

TOKYO - Japan unveiled its first home made stealth plane on Thursday as it tries to catch up on the technology and enhance its reconnaissance and intelligence capabilities as China expands its own military presence in the region.

The experimental X-2 is expected to make its maiden test flight in February. Defence officials said the aircraft is designed to test the stealth technology that would possibly be combined with the next generation fighter jet, replacing the fleet of F-2 fighters as early as 2028.

The red and white aircraft, with a 14 metre long fuselage and nine metre long wingspan, sat inside a hanger at the Nagoya Airport in central Japan. Led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, the stealth plane comes with radar-resistance features, including a canopy with special stealth-enhancing coating, and mobility.

“I cannot go into details, but we recognise it is technologically at a very high level,” said Takahiro Yoshida, an official in charge of the project at the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency of the Defence Ministry.

The 40 billion yen (HK$2.56 billion) project began in 2009.