Bae (Tempest) also targets Japanese F-X fighters (like Lockheed Martin and Boeing)
Both the British Bae Systems (contractor of the Tempest program) and the American companies Boeing and Lockheed Martin have expressed interest in participating in the development of the next generation Japanese fighter
Bae Systems aims to board the new Japanese stealth fighter, currently known as FX.
Japan is looking for a foreign partner to develop its new sixth generation fighter. Last week the Japanese Ministry of Defense announced Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as prime contractor.
Local media reported that Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said the country will select a foreign partner by the end of this year for collaboration on aviation technology. With stealth technology as an area of focus.
The British defense giant is developing the future sixth generation Tempest fighter (along with Italy and Sweden) and could participate in the Japanese project. But major US defense contractors (Boeing and Lockheed Martin) also want to board the future Japanese fighter.
All the details.
BAE SYSTEMES TECHNOLOGY ON BOARD THE JAPANESE HUNT?
As reported by the British newspaper Telegraph , Bae Systems responded to the Japanese Defense Ministry's "request for information" on how it could provide technical assistance on the new fighter.
The technologies developed for Tempest in fact – such as laser weapons, autonomous flight and AI control – could be implemented and co-developed in the FX if Bae came on board.
However, the British company will face US defense giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Both have expressed interest in participating in the project, the Japanese defense minister said.
BAE AT WORK ON THE TEMPEST
At the moment, Bae Systems is jointly developing Rolls-Royce, Leonardo Uk and Mbda Uk the future sixth generation Tempest fighter.
The UK has already pledged £ 2 billion for the program launched in 2018, which aims to start production by 2025, with delivery of the fighter aircraft system by 2035. The sixth generation stealth fighter is expected to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon from 2040.
On 22 July, the industries of Italy, the United Kingdom and Sweden started a trilateral collaboration within the project.
THE INDUSTRIES INVOLVED
The three national industries include the main defense companies in the United Kingdom (BAE Systems, Leonardo Uk, Rolls Royce and Mbda Uk), Italy (Leonardo Italy, Electronics, Avio Aero and Mbda Italy) and Sweden (Saab and Gkn Aerospace Sweden).
There has been a lot of discussion about whether Japan could become another potential partner of the Tempest and the goal of putting the FX into service by 2035 coincides with the development of the Tempest.
As DefenseNews recalled this summer, the British are looking beyond European borders in search of new partners. Both India and Japan had discussed a potential link to a future air combat system. At the beginning of July, the Japanese Minister of Defense announced the development of a national next-generation stealth fighter.
JAPAN PREFERRED A NATIONAL HUNT
Japan plans to replace its fleet of approximately 90 F-2 fighters with the new FX fighter starting in 2035.
The new fighter will replace the F-2, also built by Mitsubishi with the collaboration of Lockheed Martin to produce a fighter based on the F-16. A similar joint venture with a foreign company will therefore be selected for FX. As Defense News recalled , Japan also plans to acquire 147 F-35s, including 42 in the F-35B variant .
"We will constantly promote the development of our next generation fighter aircraft," said Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi.
As the Telegraph pointed out, moving forward with plans for a nationally-led next-generation fighter would strengthen Japan's defense sector and reduce dependence on other countries, giving Tokyo freedom of action.
BUT WORKING TOGETHER COULD REDUCE COSTS
If the choice of the foreign partner were to fall on Bae Systems, it would be a big blow for the British-led Tempest project. Working together on systems that could be used on both Tempest and FX has the potential to reduce costs.
Bae said its response to Japan's request "outlines the technical capabilities in a number of key areas that Bae Systems can offer to support FX development." “We strongly believe we can add significant value to FX. We have decades of experience partnering with nations around the world to deliver sovereign capabilities, ”the company told The Telegraph .
JAPAN WILL SELECT A FOREIGN PARTNER
The decision on a foreign partner for the development of the next generation fighter will be made by the end of this year.
Japan will therefore decide between the American Lockheed Martin and Boeing or the British Bae Systems. In addition to the already mentioned collaboration with Lockheed Martin, we also remember that Tokyo has recently chosen Boeing to update the fleet of F-15J interceptor fighters, produced under license by Mitsubishi.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/innovazione/bae-tempest-punta-anche-al-caccia-f-x-giapponese-come-lockheed-martin-e-boeing/ on Thu, 05 Nov 2020 14:50:17 +0000.