Japan’s defense ministry proposes to develop a sixth-generation manned fighter with strong counter-stealth capability and a directed-energy weapon. While a program description issued by the ministry is ambiguous, full-scale development of the sixth-generation i3 fighter would evidently begin in 2021 after at least a decade of predevelopment of a batch of technologies. The aircraft would go into service in the 2030s. A second batch of technologies would be ready in the 2040s, suggesting that an improved version would then be fielded.

Composites manufacturer Quickstep Technologies is striving to perfect a technique by the end of 2011 that offers to cut cost and weight from the next generation of narrowbody aircraft.

BEIJING — A Japanese advisory panel has renewed the push for the country to drop its ban on arms exports, a move that would open the way for it to participate in international weapons development. Adoption of the recommendations would greatly improve the economics of Japanese industry developing improved versions of the Eurofighter Typhoon or Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-15E Eagle family for the country’s F-X fighter requirement, since the resulting aircraft could also be sold to close allies.