Mitsubishi X-2/ATD-X Shinshin, explained: Right now, only three nations produce a true and operational fifth-generation stealth fighter.
The U.S. actually fields two, the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II.
China flies the Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon. Russia’s much-maligned Sukhoi Su-57 Felon rounds out the list, while its Su-75 Checkmate languishes in development hell.
Of course, other countries are trying to get into the stealth game. In response to the growing threat from China, Japan is joining the fray in yet another sign of the slow but steady repudiation of its post-World War II pacifist policy.
Say hello to the Mitsubishi X-2/ATD-X Shinshin (“mind” or “spirit”).
Mitsubishi ATD-X Shinshin History and Specifications
The Mitsubishi name is certainly familiar to military aviation history buffs. We are talking about the company that produced the legendary WWII-era A6M Zero fighter plane, as well as the present-day F-2 Viper Zero (basically a homegrown F-16 Fighting Falcon) and F-15J Peace Eagle. The Viper Zero and Peace Eagle are both excellent warbirds, but they are fourth-generation fighters, leaving significant doubts about their ability to tangle with Russian or Chinese stealth fighters in a hypothetical shooting war.
Hence the X-2/ATD-X, which made her maiden flight on April 22, 2016. The ATD-X stands for Advanced Technology Demonstrator – X, and as that label implies, the plane was built as a research prototype to determine whether Japan’s domestic technologies for a fifth-generation fighter aircraft were viable. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) has a long history of using American fighter designs, dating back to 1955 with the F-86 Sabre. So it is little surprise that the Shinshin’s design closely reflected that of the F-22.
Some of the plane’s salient features included 3D thrust vectoring, with three paddles on each engine nozzle, and an active electronically scanned array radar called the Multifunction RF Sensor that was intended to provide broad spectrum agility. Specifications included a length of 46.5 feet, a wingspan of 30 feet, and a height of 14.8 feet, with an empty weight of 21,385 pounds, and a maximum takeoff weight of 28,660 lbs. Max airspeed was Mach-2.25 (1,712 miles per hour), with a range of 1,566 nautical miles.
Field Performance
The Japanese Defense Ministry’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency originally planned 50 flights for the demonstrator. However, in November 2017, after a mere 34 sorties, the Agency announced that the X-2’s testing would be wrapped up by March of the following year. As a result of these flight tests, it was determined that Japan couldn’t develop a stealth fighter alone — it needed international partners.
What Next?
In order to fill the fifth-generation gap, Japan has ordered a total of 147 F-35s — 105 F-35 A models and up to 42 F-35 B models — thus establishing the East Asian island nation as Lockheed Martin’s biggest international buyer of the Lightning II.
Christian D. Orr is a former Air Force Security Forces officer, Federal law enforcement officer, and private military contractor (with assignments worked in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kosovo, Japan, Germany, and the Pentagon). Chris holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California (USC) and an M.A. in Intelligence Studies (concentration in Terrorism Studies) from American Military University (AMU). He has also been published in The Daily Torch and The Journal of Intelligence and Cyber Security. Last but not least, he is a Companion of the Order of the Naval Order of the United States (NOUS). In his spare time, he enjoys shooting, dining out, cigars, Irish and British pubs, travel, USC Trojans college football, and Washington DC professional sports.
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