Japanese prototype stealth plane makes first flight
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Version 0 of 1. TOKYO — Japan’s first domestically manufactured stealth plane has made its first flight, making Japan one of only a handful of nations with airplane stealth capabilities. The red-and-white prototype X-2 took off from Nagoya airport Friday and flew 25 minutes to an Air Self-Defense Force base in nearby Gifu Prefecture. The X-2 is designed to test stealth technology that could be used in Japan’s next-generation fighter jet. The stealth plane, with a 14-meter- (45-foot-) long fuselage and 9-meter- (30-foot-) wingspan, comes with radar-resistant features, such as a canopy with stealth-enhancing coating. It was developed by a consortium led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at a cost of 39.4 billion yen ($360 million), according to Japanese media reports. Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |