By akademiotoelektronik, 14/11/2022

The United Kingdom and Japan will develop a new generation fighting aircraft

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With the Tempest for one and the F-3 [or F-X] for the other, the United Kingdom and Japan have each launched the development of a 6th generation fighting aircraft.Hence discussions relating to a possible technological partnership between these two countries.

Thus, in July, on the occasion of a trip to Tokyo, the chief of staff of the Royal Air Force [RAF], the Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, had mentioned "innovative" cooperation between theBritish and Japanese industrialists, especially in the field of propulsion systems.And, this one has just materialized, five months later.

Indeed, on December 22, the British Defense Ministry [MOD] announced the signing of a "cooperation protocol" aimed at developing, jointly with Japan, a new generation fighting airplane engine demonstrator.The work will start "from the start of next year", the United Kingdom having planned an investment of 30 million pounds Sterling for this purpose.

"The strengthening of our partnerships in Indo-Pacific is a strategic priority and this commitment with Japan, one of our closest security partners in Asia, is a clear example," commented BenWallace, theBritish Defense Minister.

"Design a brand new combat air system [...] is a very ambitious project.It is therefore vital to work with nations sharing the same ideas.By relying on the technological and industrial assets of our two countries, we will explore a large -scale partnership in the technologies of the New Generation Aviatoon of combat, "said M.Wallace.

For his part, the Minister Delegate for Defense Purchasing, Jeremy Fif underlined the "enormous technological progress" of Japan, which are likely to "complete our own know-how" and "guarantee that our two armed forces will remain at the forefront ofmilitary innovaton ".

As a reminder, the Tempest program has entered its "design and evaluation" phase.He notably mobilizes Bae Systems [Project Manager], Rolls Royce, Mbda Uk and Leonardo Uk.Italy has joined it while Sweden, via Saab, contributes to the technological development of certain systems intended for this project.

As for the Japanese F-3, he must benefit from support from the American Lockheed-Martin.He notably implies Mitsubishi Heavy Industries [Manager], Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries [IHI] for engines, Subaru for landing systems as well as Fujitsu and Toshiba for embedded electronics.Its commissioning is scheduled for 2035.

The details of this cooperation between the United Kingdom and Japan in the field of engines have not been specified.However, in 2020, Rolls Royce said they worked to the development of a new combustion chamber that can support much higher temperatures than existing ones, in order to increase the efficiency of the engine while emitting "less carbon dioxide".

With the cooperation that takes shape, Rolls Royce will therefore work with Ihi.The Japanese engine manufacturer has notably developed the XF9-1 double flow turborateur offering 15 tonnes of thrust with post-combustion.This follows the XF-5, which had developed for the demonstrator of the combat aircraft Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin [or ATD-X].