Background | The Joint Advanced Strike Technology (JAST) program was established in the 1990s to provide replacements to the current combat aircraft in service with the IDAF, IDN, and IDNLF. The program served as an umbrella to three distinct airframes, designed in succession while building off each other's breakthroughs, that would meet the needs of their respective services. In a similar vein to the ATF program, a prime requirement was low observable characteristics and the integration of next generation technologies. Initially, the JAST-AF program was a distinct program from the Air Force's Multi-Role Fighter (MRF) program, which was primarily intended to replace the service's J-8 Hawk. When that program was cancelled in 2008, and with preparations for the JAST-AF program underway, Zayasu, the producer of the J-19 and the P-3, began designing the J-30.
By 2016, the follow-on lightweight complement to the J-19 and, in the future, Daitō's next generation fighter, had emerged in the form of the form of the YJ-30. The familial resemblance is deliberate, as the J-30 incorporates technology from both the Viper, as well as from other JAST airframes. Costs were further reduced with commonalities in avionics and engines. One of the most notable features, perhaps becoming standard to Zayasu stealth fighter designs, were the distinctive "ruddervators" seen on the J-19 and even the company's MRF proposal. The YJ-30 prototype flight the following year, albeit with limited public exposure due to security concerns. In 2017, the YJ-30 was named "Shrike", which came as a compromise when compared to the pastiche "Hayate II" which was often lamented by the public. The early success of the YJ-30 prototype would, in time, become marred by by a protracted development phase in the years that followed. Simplifying the Viper into the Shrike looked good on paper, but its execution required a steep learning curve for its developers. The driving force of the delays were reducing costs, easing the complexity of construction and ensuring that the J-30's VLO systems remained durable in any environment.
The engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) J-30A finally emerged in 2022, sported a refined airframe with various improvements over the prototypes. A sleeker nose, new exhaust configuration and the redesigned tail were major highlights. The potential for supercruise is also expected, pending further improvements with the powerplant. The Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS), developed for all three JAST airframes, was also integrated into the J-30. The LRIP units began production that same year, with the IDAF performing test and evaluation flights. The Shrike's single engine configuration and simpler construction made it less agile than the Viper, however, with late fifth-generation technology, it marked a significant "quantum leap" over the J-8. Full-rate production began in 2023. |