The sale of Raptors to foreign countries is still banned, but that baby is truly a beauty. How gos the saying: "what looks good usually flies good".

I hope to hear more of that plane.

Originally posted by Swordbeast
The sale of Raptors to foreign countries is still banned, but that baby is truly a beauty. How gos the saying: "what looks good usually flies good".

I hope to hear more of that plane.

Well...the quote goes good almost every time....until you see the russian fighters like Sukhoi SU-30 MKI
Looks bad, but flies like nothing on earth..


But that Japanese plane, looks like something taken from the anime series Macross or something, looks like a hybrid plane, the long nose of a Sukhoi SU-27/30, the cockpit of a F-15 Eagle, and a body of a F-22 Raptor.....that looks like the ultimate...and could be the ultimate.

I think it is a good-shape aircraft.

But Lockheed's F-35 maybe a better choice for japan airforce.

The problem is that the Japanese want a specialized air-defense aircraft, not a multirole aircraft like F-35.

Shinsen is optimized for speed and agility, not penetration of enemy air defense networks - a role superfluous for Japan's purely defensive strategic posture.

F-22 would be a better fit for them than F-35 (which they have expressed little interest in) for this reason.

Even if we do reverse course and offer them F-22, the new government, seeking a more independent foreign policy, may decide going ahead with the ATD-X better suits their needs.

Although it would be kind of cool to see F-22 with big red Hinomaru's on the wings

[edit on 9/18/09 by xmotex]

Originally posted by xmotex
The problem is that the Japanese want a specialized air-defense aircraft, not a multirole aircraft like F-35.

Shinsen is optimized for speed and agility, not penetration of enemy air defense networks - a role superfluous for Japan's purely defensive strategic posture.

F-22 would be a better fit for them than F-35 (which they have expressed little interest in) for this reason.

Even if we do reverse course and offer them F-22, the new government, seeking a more independent foreign policy, may decide going ahead with the ATD-X better suits their needs.

Although it would be kind of cool to see F-22 with big red Hinomaru's on the wings

[edit on 9/18/09 by xmotex]

For Japan，the biggest challenge maybe come from North Korea and the main attacking weapon of NK is intermediate-range ballistic missiles. In my opinion, F-22(include ATD-X) has weak use to defence the missiles' attack. so,The most important thing for Japan now is ABM system, NOT F-22 and such heavy fighters.

BTW, I was heard that the manufacturing plant of F-22 is in Underground. Is that true????


[edit on 18-9-2009 by Redhercules]

[edit on 18-9-2009 by Redhercules]