Japan fearing China is seeking protection from USA. So they are sacrificing their own defense companies' interests by buying F35 and other weapons from USA as a global protection racket, instead of producing locally. I believe it makes perfect sense to at least try to make a deal that would help both nations.
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Ae...se-equipment-supply-chain-is-in-a-predicament
https://interestingengineering.com/...ary-power-of-japans-sixth-gen-f-x-fighter-jet
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With regards to propulsion, one of the main companies involved in the project,
IHI Corporation, has been testing a new jet engine, the
XF9-1 low-bypass turbofan engines since 2018. This engine includes some interesting "exotic" materials that will help keep its weight down while simultaneously increasing the engine's heat tolerance to as much as 3,272 degrees Fahrenheit (1,800 degrees Celsius).
This engine is capable of pumping out around 16.5 tons of thrust with afterburners. This is impressive but it is still slightly lower than the F119 engines currently installed on U.S. F-22 Raptors. That being said, the XF-9 is slimmer and can generate more power at around 241 horsepower (180 kW) apiece.
Japanese engineers have also been toying with thrust-vectoring nozzles for the XF9-1 engine which, if successful, could provide the F-X with some impressive mid-flight maneuverability. This kind of feature is currently an integral part of the F-22 and Russian Su-30 fighters. Allegedly, the
Chinese J-10 and J-20 fighters also have this capability."