■刀客

原文：

 Japan has picked Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a main contractor to develop the country's own next generation stealth fighter for launch in the 2030s, the defense minister said.

 Separately, Mitsubishi announced that it was suspending its civilian aircraft project given uncertainties for the travel industry due to the coronavirus pandemic.

 The next generation fighters, currently known as F-X, are part of Japan's upgrading of its aging fighter jet fleet as the country builds up its military capability to counter growing threats from China and North Korea.

 The next generation stealth jet will replace F-2s that Japan co-developed with the U.S. They are due to be retired around 2035. The Defense Ministry is seeking $556 million in the 2021 budget for research into developing the aircraft.

中譯：

 日本防衛大臣表示，日本已選定三菱重工，作為研發其國產新一代匿蹤戰機主要承商；該款戰機預於2030年代服役。

 三菱重工則自行宣布，考量新冠肺炎疫情為旅遊業帶來的不確定性，該集團將暫停旗下客機專案。

 這款目前被稱為F-X的新一代戰機，係日本老舊戰機機隊升級計畫之一部；乃日本增長軍力，以反制中共及北韓威脅日益升高之作為。

 日本與美國共同研發的F-2系列戰機，約於2035年屆期除役，將由新一代戰機取代。日本防衛省將於2021年預算中，尋求5.56億美元經費，用於研發該款戰機。

─關鍵軍語─

 ※stealth fighter：

 Fighter invisible to radar due to its unique body shape, outer coating, and thermal dissipation.

例句：

 China's J-20 stealth fighter was shown in a training dogfight on state television.

 中共官方電視台播放殲20匿蹤戰機空中纏鬥訓練畫面。