Why Japan’s XF9 Turbofan Engine Program Might have Some Lessons for India’s Kaveri Engine Team

After being snubbed by stiff US export control laws on sharing of 5th generation fighter aircraft technologies, Japan has taken upon itself to develop most of the technologies required for the development of a 5th generation fighter jet to be called F-3 while it continues to induct American made F-35 Stealth fighter jets in good numbers. According to latest media reports, F-3 design will be only confirmed in 2020 but it will much bigger aircraft then X-2 Shinshin Advanced Technology Demonstrator aircraft which flew in 2016 and many defense analysts predict that Japan is going for an F-22 class fighter jet which means it could have an MTOW of over 35 tonnes and to meet power demands of such Heavy class stealth fighter jet, Japan as developed and begun testing of XF-9-1 low-bypass turbofans developed by Ishikawa Heavy Industries (IHI). Read More…