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| Mitsubishi ATD-X Stealth Fighter Prototype (Wiki Info) |
TOKYO — A group of major Japanese firms are planning a test flight next year for the nation’s first homegrown stealth fighter jet, a report said Tuesday.
The consortium — led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries — is developing a jet that has similar technology to US-made F-35 stealth fighters, with a prototype set for a test run in January, the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper said.
About ¥39.2 billion ($384 million) has been invested in the project, said the report, which did not cite sources.
Following the initial flight, the jet will undergo about two years of testing at the defense ministry with Tokyo set to decide on whether to buy the plane by early 2019, it added.
The story could not be immediately confirmed.
Read the full story at DefenseNews