JAPAN'S TECHNICAL Research and Development Institute (TRDI) plans to equip its future fighter demonstrator engine with a thrust vectoring nozzle and has already begun ordering long lead components for the power plant.
The TRDI is evaluating either equipping the XF3-400 engine with two-directional thrust deflection paddles or the more advanced 360O axisym-metric nozzle, similar to that seen fitted to the Sukhoi Su-27 aircraft 711 and under development for Pratt & Whitney's Multi-Axis Thrust Vectoring programme.
Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI) plans to begin assembling the 50kN (11,200lb)-thrust XF3-400 this fiscal year. The power plant is based on IHI's F3-30 engine, but will be augmented and feature a new lightweight heat resistant bill of material to give an 8:1 thrust-to-weight ratio.
It will be used to power a twin-engine technology demonstrator aircraft (TD-X), tentatively scheduled to fly in the year 2000. The TRDI hopes to secure funding to begin development of the TD-X programme in the next fiscal year 1996 budget.
The TD-X will form the possible basis, for an indigenously developed replacement aircraft, for Japan's McDonnell Douglas F-15J fighter. The FI-X-designated stealth fighter is intended to provide Japanese aerospace industry with a follow programme to the Mitsubishi FS-X support fighter.
Source: Flight International
