• Forum
• SITREP

• Military

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space
• Public Eye

Further Reading

Advanced Technology Demonstrator – X (ATD-X) Shinshin (“Spirit”)

The “Advanced Technology Demonstrator – X” (ATD-X) prototype under development by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is not officially planned for production. The Japanese Ministry of Defence will used the ATD-X as a technology demonstrator and research prototype to determine whether domestic advanced technologies for a 5th generation fighter aircraft are viable.

By some initial reports, the ATD-X was a 1/3 size model of a possible full-production aircraft. Some reports stated that the design is mostly inspired by F-22 Raptor, but the photographs of the mockup generally resemble the F-15SE Silent Eagle stealth design by Boeing. Notably, Boeing's F-15J is produced in Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

The Department of Air Systems Development of the Technical Research and Development Institute of the Ministry of Defense is in charge of developing aircrafts, aircraft engines, avionics and other equipment, including the ATD-X. Japan is feeling the pressure of a regional dogfight over fighter superiority. "If the countries surrounding Japan have stealth capabilities, Japan will need to develop those capabilities itself to ensure our own defense," said Col. Yoshikazu Takizawa of the Defense Ministry's Technical Research and Development Institute. "Japan wanted the F-22, but Congress didn't agree to that," Yoshioka said. "We realized that it was important for us to develop our domestic capabilities."

Early studies forcued on the excellence demanded by the development of future fighters and study of aircraft flight control. This study was to determine the method for moving the rudder surface, as well as controlling the aircraft using engine thrust. It was used charts to validate the stealth high movement form was designed based on radio wave reflecting characteristics in actual size whole aircraft real RCS Radar Cross Section test model. A mock-up of the ATD-X was constructed for radar cross section study in France in 2005. A 1/5 scale radio-controlled model of the shape first flew in 2006, to conduct tests on performance at high angles of attack aas well as to test new sensory equipment and self-repairing flight control systems. Subsequently, in 2007 it was decided to build a prototype that would fly in 2014, with potential for production around the year 2017.

By 2010 it was reported that the ATD-X would be similar in size to the Gripen. It would be powered by a pair of IHI XF5 afterburning, thrust-vectoring engines, derived from the XF7 turbofan used by Japan's Kawasaki XP-1 maritime patrol aircraft.

In March 2011 it was reported that General Hideyuki Yoshioka, director of air systems development at the Ministry of Defense, stated that the ATD-X, or Shinshin (“Spirit”) fighter will fly for the first time some time in 2014. The prototype would test advanced technologies, and if successful the government would decide in 2016 how to proceed. Japan had put 39 billion yen (abou US$475 million) into the project since 2009, once it became clear the US was unlikely to sell the F-22 “Raptor. A successful test flight of the prototype, dubbed “Shinshin” (“Spirit”), would not lead to immediate production.