How serious are Japan with this ATD concept ? Seems reading this Mitsubishi sites indicated they are getting serious.

http://www.4-traders.com/MITSUBISHI-HVY-IND-6491254/news/MITSUBISHI-HVY-IND-MHI-Begins-Assembly-of-Full-scale-Model-for-Advanced-Technology-Demonstrator-Ai-14242208/

Is this potential F-3 ? or just another technological demonstrator. After all Japan already committed to F-35 right ? Does any of you gents now what they mean the project scheduled for completion in 2017 ? Is this mean a working prototype will be available in 2017 ? Now they only begin to build full scale model in 2012, however the first flight scheduled on 2014. Is it realistic ?

F-35 seems to be a mere stopgap measure until the long term replacement the ATD-X is ready to replace the F-15s and F-2s

the report is not clear when the planes need to be delivered apart from four. and what will happen to rest JSDF like F-15J/F-2. will they be retired unupgraded. 40 to low number for license production.

This is what the JASDF call “tasting” the capability . They’ve bought the F-35 primarily to test its suitability for a potential long term replacement for the f-15s and F-2s by replacing the obsolete F-4s . Its a bit like what Australia are doing now with the Boeing Superhornets. If the F-35 proves kosher to the Japanese then they’ll order more to replace the F-15s and F-2s . If not , the ADT-x which is still in initial development phase will replace the other 2 airframes which aren’t as clapped out as the f-4s but at least mitsubishi can take their time on it since Japan will still have a cutting edge fighter to flash around for a whille yet

You know , should the japanese consider selling some of their F-2s to Taiwan to help fund the Fx and ATD-X?
The Taiwanese would love to have more “F-16s” since the US just refused direct sale to them and since the F-2 is a dead end with only a limited amount of missions which paralel what ROCAF F-16s are used for anyway , a deal would be benefical for both parties . All thee taiwanese need to do is swap out the asm-2s for harpoons and they got what they wanted in the first place . Namely a new(ish) “F-16” that could last a couple more years but be so limited in capability , the chinese won’t bat an eyelid

The skycat have been attempting to sell that concept for years . They should really have pitched it to airbus as a way to transport a380 parts not the usaf

Hey I was there too .
Got him to sign my Century Wings Sr-71 a “Rapid Rabbit ” model . I can say, he was very impressed by my diecast model. After the lecture , everyone was literally crowding over it comparing it to the bravo delta version . I think i’ve also given aviation retail direct in hillingdon some free advertisment after i told them how much cheaper the century wings version was to the wooden version

Oh well At least they can start replacing some F-2s when they are due retirement since the F-35 can do all of the F-2s and F-4s missions and then some