防衛省公開首架国産隱形機相片、明年１月初飛行

A few weeks ago the Asahi News on-line reported the following:

国産初のステルス機、防衛省が画像公開　来年１月初飛行

谷田邦一

2014年8月20日18時44分

　次世代戦闘機の独自開発をめざす防衛省が、実験モデルとしてつくった国産初のステルス機「先進技術実証機（ＡＴＤ）」の画像を公開した。レーダーに映りにくいステルス形状や推力の方向を自在に操れる高機動性が特徴。来年１月中旬に初飛行し、２０１６年度までデータを収集する。

　機体は全長約１４メートル、全幅約９メートル。エンジンが小型のため、実際の戦闘機よりひと回り小さい。ステルス性を高めるため機体に炭素繊維でできた電波吸収材を使ったり、噴流を自由に変えられる国産初のアフターバーナー付きエンジン２発を搭載したりして国産企業の最新技術を結集している。

　同省の技術研究本部が１９９６年度から三菱重工業とともに基礎研究を始め、今年５月にエンジンや飛行制御システムを搭載した機体がほぼ完成。初飛行に向けた機能チェックを重ねている。総事業費は３９２億円。同省は欧米に比べて遅れている戦闘機開発のレベルを高め、２７年ごろを目標に国産戦闘機を導入する選択肢がもてないかを探る。（谷田邦一）

(試譯文)

The Ministry of Defense which aimed at an independent development of the next-generation fighter plane showed the picture of its first Stealth plane, the "Advanced Technological Demonstrator-X (ATD)" built domestically as an experiment model. The features were its high mobility, its stealth form making it not easily be reflected in radar, and the direction of its thrust could be freely controlled. The first flight would be carried out in mid-January next year, and data would be collected till fiscal year 2016.

The body was about 14 meters in full length, and about 9 meters in full width. As the engine was small, the Stealth was somewhat smaller than an actual fighter. In order to improve its stealth nature, the body was made by carbon fiber which was a radio-wave-absorbing material. It was equipped with two domestically built afterburner engines, making the jet stream freely changeable. It combined the state-of-the-art technology of Japanese companies.

The Technical Research and Development Institute of the said Ministry began basic research with the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries from fiscal year 1996. The body which carried the engines and the flight control system was almost completed in May this year. The function check towards the first flight was piling up. The total operating expense was 39,200 million yen. The said Ministry was exploring whether it could have a choice to raise the level of the fighter plane development, which had fallen behind compared with the West, and to aim at introducing domestic fighters around 2027.

Obviously it needs time and money to research and build the Stealth planes.