www.nikkei.com
The Japanese government announced that the XF9-1 consumes 14% less fuel than the F119, which has roughly the same thrust.The subsonic combat radius is 595 nm / 1100 km.
All that with a fuel fraction of around 0.29.
The F-35A achieves a combat radius of 760 nm with a fuel fraction of 0.38. Assuming similar levels of fuel consumption, GCAP would require a fuel fraction of around 0.6 for a 1200 nm combat radius.
That is not doable for a fighter. For comparison, the Sukhois have fuel fractions of around 0.35, the MiG-31 and the F-111 around 0.42. But the F-22 is fuel hungry and the F-35 is ... aerodynamically challenged.So GCAP surely will be more efficient. But enough to achieve a combat radius of around 1200 nm? Probably not.
Maybe a 1000 nm radius with a fuel fraction of ~0.42 is possible.
It has been revealed that the US, UK and Australia security framework "AUKUS" has approached the Japanese government about cooperation regarding the operation of the next generation fighter jets that the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces aim to start in 2035. The focus will be on joint research into artificial intelligence (AI) to be installed on unmanned aircraft that will fly alongside the next fighter jets. There is also an aim to compete in the field of advanced technology where China is focusing its efforts.
無人機登載のAI研究、日本に連携打診 米英豪｢AUKUS｣ - 日本経済新聞
防衛省・自衛隊が2035年の開始をめざす次期戦闘機の運用を巡り、米国、英国、オーストラリアの安全保障の枠組み「AUKUS（オーカス）」が日本政府に連携を打診していたことがわかった。戦闘機と一緒に飛ばす無人機に搭載する人工知能（AI）の共同研究を軸に据える。中国が力を入れる先端技術分野で対抗する狙いもある。AUKUS加盟国の防衛当局から24年末までに防衛省へ連絡があった。AUKUSが目的のひとつ
www.defensenews.com
