Bradley Perrett covered China, Japan, South Korea and Australia. He is a Mandarin-speaking Australian.
Before joining Aviation Week in 2006 he was a macroeconomics, politics and aerospace journalist with Reuters. Perrett holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Macquarie University, Sydney. He left Aviation Week in 2020.
Japanese engineers have ground tested a turbojet in conditions equivalent to Mach 4, which they believe is the highest simulated speed at which a turbine engine has operated. The February round of tests was a step toward building an engine that, unlike ramjets, has the thrust and efficiency advantages of mechanical compression and the ability to propel an aircraft from takeoff to Mach 5.
Slowly, steadily Japan is building its naval aviation strength, and with it a latent capacity for local power projection. A third helicopter carrier, launched in August, is due for commissioning in 2015, while a sister ship is planned and probably under construction. In December, Japan decided to take the first steps toward increasing its amphibious capability, which will likely produce at least two ships larger than the current three, with full-length flight decks.
