| X-2 Shinshin | |
|---|---|
 X-2 during its maiden flight | |
| General information | |
| Type | Stealth experimental technology demonstrator |
| National origin | Japan |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Status | Completed |
| Primary user | Japan Air Self-Defense Force |
| Number built | 1 prototype |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 2009–2016 |
| Introduction date | 2016 |
| First flight | 22 April 2016[1] |
| Developed into | Global Combat Air Programme |
The Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin (三菱 X-2 心神, formerly the ATD-X) is a Japanese experimental aircraft for testing advanced stealth fighter aircraft technologies. It is being developed by the Japanese Ministry of Defense Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI) for research purposes. The main contractor of the project is Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Many consider this aircraft to be Japan's first domestically made stealth fighter. ATD-X is an abbreviation for "Advanced Technology Demonstrator – X". The aircraft is widely known in Japan as Shinshin (心神, meaning "mind" or "spirit.")[2][3][4] although the name itself is an early code name within the Japan Self-Defense Forces and is not officially in use.[5][6][7] The aircraft's first flight was on 22 April 2016.
The success of this development test prototype has led to the start-up of the Mitsubishi F-X sixth-generation fighter program.
- ^ Japan's Stealth Jet Makes First Flight as Abe Boosts Defense
- ^ "国産ステルス機2月離陸 独創究めた「消える機体」" (in Japanese). The Nikkei. 8 February 2016
- ^ "日本心神 横山大観" (in Japanese). Cultural Heritage Online, National Institute of Informatics (NII). Retrieved 22 November 2017.
- ^ Takahashi, Kosuke (April 20, 2014). "平成のゼロ戦､「心神」が年内初飛行へ" [The first flight of the "Shinshin", a Zero fighter of the Heisei era, by the end of this year]. Toyo Keizai (in Japanese).
- ^ Gifu Test Center, Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA)
- ^ Press Release, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
- ^ Lockheed & Mitsubishi’s F-2 Fighter may be replaced with ATD-X