Japan recently unveiled its first ever stealth fighter jet, the X-2, on Thursday. According to government officials, the plane's test flight is scheduled on February 2015.
The plane was presented by the Acquisition Technology and Logistics of Japan's Defence Ministry at the factory of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. at Komaki city. It was developed through the collaboration of local companies with Mitsubishi taking the lead. The plane was built at the Mitsubishi plant located in Toyoyama Prefecture.
This radar-dodging jet is 14.2 meters long (46.58 feet) and 8.1 meters wide (26.57 feet). It was a built to replace the F-2 fighter jets that the country developed with the help of the United States.
According to the agency, only Russia, China and the United States were able to successfully develop, test and fly manned stealth fighters.
The total amount Japan spent in building this jet is reportedly ¥39.4 billion ($332 million).
Japan also has a landmark development project that it unveiled in November - its first domestically built passenger jet built also by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. This project is significant because Japan is prohibited from making aircraft as part of the deal it signed when it surrendered to the allies in World War II.
Its test flight, according to officials, will take the jet from Nagoya airport near the Mitsubishi plant to the air base of Japan's Self-Defence Force in Kakamigahara located in Gifu Prefecture.
The development of this stealth fighter, according to agency officials, started in fiscal year 2009. It owes its stealth capability from its carbon fiber shield materials that absorb radio waves, which makes it difficult for radar to detect it.
This plane will be used to gather data which will help officials decide in 2018 if the Japanese government will continue building several units domestically or involve outside aircraft development companies to replace the agency's F-2 fighters.
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