Is this Japan’s First Indigenous Stealth Jet Prototype?

A leaked image may show the famous Mitsubishi’s ATD-X Shinshin stealth fighter.

An image appeared on some Chinese forums, may show the first prototype of the Advanced Technology Demonstrator-X (ATD-X), a fighter plane destined to replace Japan Air Self-Defense Force‘s Mitsubishi F-2 in the air defense role.

The aircraft, developed by the Japanese Ministry of Defense Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI) for research purposes and unofficially known in Japan as Shinshin (meaning “spirit of the heart”, actually an early codename within the Japan Self Defense Force) is expected to fly for the first time within the end of this year.

Therefore this first, blurry image, might really depict the ATD-X, a canted vertical tails radar-evading air superiority fighter with enhanced maneuverability, considered vital to counter the Chinese J-20 and Russian T-50 stealth jets in the Pacific.

Even if the white color scheme with a large red stripe does not seem too stealthy.

Image credit: Chinese Internet

Related articles

• Third Prototype of China’s Stealth Jet Makes Maiden Flight and Shows Improvements
• Iran unveils new indigenous stealth fighter “Qaher 313″. And here’s a detailed analysis.
• Russia’s fifth generation PAK-FA prototype catches fire on landing
• Russian Bombers Fly 50 Miles off California. F-22s and F-15s intercept them.
• Has China just rolled out third prototype of J-20 stealth fighter jet?
• Stunning image of two Russian T-50 stealth planes during weapon integration tests
• Upgraded, third prototype of China’s stealth jet ready for maiden flight

About David Cenciotti

WebsiteFacebookTwitterLinkedIn instagram

David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.