helmutkohl said:
since this project is now being built, shouldn't it be moved to the aerospace section?
Japan is going ahead with the project? YES!!!
To be honest, I'm concerned with the size of the aircraft, as it will put a limit on what can be done with the airframe in terms of overall capabilities. As great as two engines would be, at it's projected size according to those slides, it would be more feasible to go with a single engine, leaving more space in the fuselage for fuel or internal weapons carriage. The larger size of course makes a larger radar more feasible. Even with the possibility of having radar equipped UCAVs doing the forward radar detection, a good fighter still needs a proper radar system. IRST should be standard as well, or perhaps EODAS type system since it's shown some capacity to operate much like an IRST.
First I would expand the fuselage to accept advanced derivative F414s. Next, I would build some decent spacing between the engine bays in kind of planform manner akin to the T-50 for fire safety and centerline weapons bay of fuel storage. Considering Japan is all about naval strike (at least historically with the F-1 and F-2), it could be the perfect storage spot for medium sized anti-ship missiles, two in tandem, or perhaps an indigenous long range AAM, or 2 + 2 AMRAAMs (or w/e Japanese equivalent). It would also leave room for a stinger tail for a rear facing radar or other equipment. Also, divergent thrust vector roll control should be more effective in this arrangement (assuming the roll inertia moment isn't made worse by the farther spacing). For external fuel carriage, I think a stealthy + aerodynamic jettisonable fuel pod that attaches in the spacing beneath the weapons bay could be done. In a combat situation it would be jettisoned like normal drop tanks so those weapon bays could unleash their fury, but otherwise would add considerable extra fuel and range. I would expect such a plane to still have "side weapons bays" a la F-22 or F-35 for AIM-9s or AMRAAMs (or perhaps one of each per bay?).
So basically I would go for:
Length: ~55 ft
Radar: APG-81 radar with a larger module array akin to APG-77 in size (or bigger if room in the nose).
Engines: EDE F414s (~26,000 lbs thrust). F414s should be semi-supercruise capable, probably up to M1.2 or 1.3 w/o afterburner.
Fuel capacity: 18,000 lbs + 10,000 lb external "pod"
Loaded weight: 55,000 - 60,000 lbs (for A2A, no external fuel).
