Stealth Fighter Jets Pose a Threat

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Confronting the threat of stealth fighter jets requires the development of advanced and special means in comparison to the challenge posed by other fighter jets. The Japanese Defense Ministry has requested a $178 million budget funding in 2018 for the development of a next generation radar system that will have increased capacity to identify Russian and Chinese advanced stealth fighter jets.

According to defenseworld.net, the next-generation radar system will be able to detect radio wave systems. Furthermore, it is expected that the new portable radar system will begin operating in 2024, various local media reported.

The Defense Ministry has included costs for development of the advanced radar system, alongside deployment of land-based Aegis Ashore defense system and increasing the number of Aegis-equipped destroyers, in the budgetary allocation request for the next fiscal year. The Japanese Defense Ministry’s plans to increase its defense capability would be most likely discussed during the 2+2 talks between the US and Japanese foreign and defense ministers in the coming weeks.

Russia and China have been involved recently in developing advanced technologies for stealth jets of its own, which are expected to be more advanced than those developed by the US.

Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation developed the Su-57, a single-seat, twin-engine multirole stealth fighter designed for air superiority and attack roles. It’s equipped with advanced avionics system and airborne active phased array radar. The jet made its maiden flight in 2010. In July, United Aircraft Corporation president Yury Slyusar said that the first Su-57s could come into service in 2019.

China’s Chengdu Aerospace Corporation for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) developed the J-20, a stealth, twin-engine, fifth-generation fighter. The jet carried out its maiden flight in January 2011 and was presented at the Airshow China last year.