First flight of the Kawasaki Heavy Industries C-X will be delayed, after the big Japanese airlifter failed structural tests. The P-X maritime patroller, a parallel development by the same manufacturer, has also suffered structural problems. And delivery of the first Boeing KC-767 to Japan has been delayed for a third time—from the end of this month until March—because it has not passed U.S. safety requirements, says the defense ministry.

A low-key, but so far uncompromising, campaign is underway in Japan to add stealth to the nation’s defense arsenal by acquiring the Lockheed Martin F-22. The rationale for buying the fighter—little talked about, but central to the debate—is missile defense. In its latest move—a decision to accelerate upgrades of its F-15J Eagles and operate them longer—Japan is buying more time for its campaign to get the Raptor.

Japan is seeking not only stealth but also thrust-vectoring, highly integrated avionics, skin sensors, fly-by-light controls and new engines as it pushes ahead with building a fighter technology demonstrator. Supersonic cruise is also targeted by Japan’s defense research institute, although it isn’t listed as an objective of the demonstrator program.