Image source: topwar.ru
It seems that London and Tokyo have decided to join forces to jointly create a new sixth-generation combat aircraft. Britain and Japan are developing an invisible fighter that will "put the American F-35 behind the belt".
This is reported by Reuters.
The US press claims that by the end of this year it will combine two programs to create a combat aircraft: the Japanese F-X and the British Tempest. According to the agency, the project will become an equal partnership between the two countries and will cost tens of billions of dollars.
It seems that his goal is to develop the same stealth fighter, but with slight differences in versions for each of the countries.
Until recently, Japan worked on joint defense projects only with the United States. And the unification of F-X and Tempest, if it takes place, will be a new unique experience for Tokyo.
Initially, it was assumed that under the F-X program, the first aircraft would be prepared for a test flight by 2028, and mass production would begin in the 2030s. The creation of the first fighter under the Tempest program is scheduled for 2027, it should go into production at the same time as its Japanese counterpart, in the next decade.
Image source: topwar.ru
The aircraft being developed in the UK has characteristics that provide it with a wide range of capabilities. In particular, we are talking about extensive awareness of the situation on the battlefield, combining data from different sources, modular design to meet the needs of different customers, the possibility of manned and unmanned control, as well as temperature control for greater stealth.