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| JASDF F-15J (Wiki Info - Image: Wiki Commons) |
After claiming that the Japanese F-2 multirole fighter is going to defeat its Chinese counterpart, J-10 in a future air combat over the disputed Diaoyutai (Senkaku) islands, Kyle Mizokami, an American military expert said that the People's Liberation Army's J-20 fifth-generation fighter will be able to shoot down Japan's American-built F-15J fighter in an article he wrote for the National Interest magazine on Oct. 16.
Although the F-15J is an excellent fighter, Japan's ministry of defense had expected to replace the older, cold war era aircraft with the F-22 fifth-generation fighter, Mizokami said. Japan, however, was later prohibited from purchasing the upgrade — the F-22 Raptor — from the US after Congress approved the Obey Amendment in 1997.
Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was license to manufacture a total number of 223 F-15J since 1981. An upgrade program was carried out by Japan Air Defense Force in early 21st century to fit advanced infra-red guided missiles such as AAM-3, AAM-5, improved AN/APG-63 mechanically-scanned pulse-doppler radars, the AAM-4B radar-guided missiles, improved electronic countermeasures and a nose-mounted infrared search and track sensor to the F-15J fighter.
Read the full story at Want China Times