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The Mitsubishi ATD-X Shinshin is a Japanese experimental aircraft for testing advanced stealth fighter aircraft technologies. It is being developed by the Japanese Ministry of Defense Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI) for research purposes. The main contractor of the project is Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Many consider this aircraft to be Japan's first domestically made stealth fighter. ATD-X is an acronym meaning "Advanced Technology Demonstrator – X". The aircraft is widely known in Japan as ,〔(Japanese dictionary entry for "shinshin", via Google Translate ) dictionary.goo.ne.jp〕 although the name itself is only an early codename within the Japan Self-Defense Forces; The name is not officially in use.〔(Technical Research & Development Institute, Ministry of Defence )〕〔(Press Release, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries )〕 The aircraft's first flight is scheduled for 2015. ==Development== At the beginning of the twenty-first century, Japan, seeking to replace its aging fleet of fighter aircraft, began making overtures to the United States on the topic of purchasing several Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighters for their own forces. However the U.S. Congress had banned the exporting of the aircraft in order to safeguard secrets of the aircraft's technology such as its extensive use of stealth; this rejection necessitated Japan to develop its own modern fighter, to be equipped with stealth features and other advanced systems. A radio-controlled 1/5 scale model made its first flight in 2006 to gain data on performance at high angles of attack and to test new sensory equipment and self-repairing flight control systems. Following these preliminary steps, the decision was taken in 2007 to push ahead with the multi billion-yen project. At the time of this decision, production was forecast to start roughly 10 years later, around 2017. In 2007, the ATD-X was expected to conduct its maiden flight in 2014. In 2011, the maiden flight is to take place in 2014 or 2015.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Photos of ATD-X Japan's Stealth Jet )〕 On July 2014, the TRDI (Technical Research & Development Institute ) released the first official photos of the ATD-X prototype, and stated that the aircraft was undergoing tests on the ground. The fighter prototype is expected to be fully developed by 2018. The ATD-X program will then lead to a F-3 fighter to be produced in 2027. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Mitsubishi ATD-X Shinshin」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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