Mitsubishi F-2
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| Mitsubishi F-2 | |
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| Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2 | |
| Type | Multirole fighter |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Lockheed Martin |
| Maiden flight | 1995-10-07 |
| Introduced | 2000 |
| Primary user | Japan Air Self-Defense Force |
| Number built | 90 |
| Unit cost | US$108 million in 2004 |
| Developed from | F-16 Fighting Falcon |
The F-2 is a Japanese-American fighter aircraft manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Lockheed Martin for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, with a 60/40 split in manufacturing between Japan and the USA. General Electric (Engine), Kawaski, Honeywell, Raytheon, NEC, and Kokusai Electric are among the other larger participants to varying degrees; final assembly is done in Japan by MHI. Production started in 1996 and the first aircraft entered service in 2000.
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[edit] Overview
Work started in 1980s under the FS-X program, and began in earnest with a memorandum of understanding between Japan and the United States. It would lead to a new fighter based on the General Dynamics (post '93, Lockheed Martin) F-16 Fighting Falcon, and in particular the F-16 Agile Falcon proposal. Lockheed Martin and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries co-developed and co-produce the aircraft, the company is a major subcontractor to Mitsubishi, some of the early developmental work was actually under General Dynamics, who sold its aircraft division to LM in 1993. It is essentially an execution of the F-16 Agile Falcon proposal- a late 1980s plan for an enlarged F-16 which was passed over in the U.S. in favor of an all-new fighter program (Joint Strike Fighter). The F-2 used wings design just like F-16 Agile Falcon, but much of the electronics were further updated to 1990s standards. The overall concept of the enlarged F-16 by General Dynamics was intended as a cheap counter to the then emerging threat of Su-27/MiG-29.
The Japanese may eventually make up to 98, at a cost of roughly 100 million USD each in 2004 dollars. Much of the F-16 technology used in the F-2 was the subject of some political debate in the U.S. and Japan in the early 1990s. The technology transfers were authorized however, and the project proceeded.
It has the Japanese nickname of "Viper Zero" from its pilots taking the unofficial nickname of F-16 and A6M Zero or the last two digits of year 2000 when it officially entered service. Its pilots are called "F-2 Charmer" as they are likened to a snake charmer.
[edit] History
In October 1987, Japan selected the F-16 as the basis of its new secondary fighter, to replace the aging Mitsubishi F-1 and supplement its main air superiorty fighter, the F-15J as well as the F-4EJ. Meanwhile also during the 1980s, General Dynamics (whom had developed the F-16) had proposed its F-16 Agile Falcon to the USAF. While the US would pass over the design concept in favor of all-new types (F-22/JSF) and upgrades to existing fleet, this enlarged F-16 would find a home in Japan.
The F-2 program was controversial, because the unit cost which include development costs is roughly 4 times that of a Block 50/52 F-16 which does not include development costs. Inclusion of development costs distorts the incremental unit cost (this happens with most modern military aircraft), though even at the planned procurement levels the price per aircraft was somewhat high. The initial plan of 141 F-2s would have reduced the unit cost by up to 10 million dollars per unit not including reduced cost from mass production. As of 2005 up to about 98 aircraft we planned. Also controversial is the amounts claimed to be paid to American side as various licensing fees, although making use of the pre-existing technology was much cheaper than trying to develop it from scratch.
Some differences in the F-2 from the F-16A:
- a 25% larger wing area
- composite materials used to reduce overall weight and radar signature
- longer nose to accommodate a phased-array radar
- larger tailplane
- larger air intake
- three-piece cockpit canopy
- capabilities for four ASM-1 or ASM-2 anti-ship missiles, four AAMs, and additional fuel tanks
Also, the F-2 equipes a drouge parachute, like the NATO version of the F-16.
The F-2's maiden flight was on October 7, 1995. Later that year, the Japanese government approved an order for 130, to enter service by 1999; structural problems resulted in service entry being delayed until 2000. The overall result of the program was essentially an aircraft with nearly the F-15 Eagle's size and weight on only one, albeit newer, engine. On the other hand, it as at least as expensive as one anyway, and in retrospect it would be simpler to spend the money on more F-15J (already Japan's primary air superiority fighter).
Because of issues with cost-efficiency, orders for the aircraft were severely curtailed to 98 in 2004.
[edit] Variants
- XF-2A : Single-seat prototypes.
- XF-2B : Two-seat prototypes.
- F-2A : Single-seat fighter version.
- F-2B : Two-seat training version.
[edit] Users
[edit] Specifications (F-2)
General characteristics
- Crew: One pilot
- Length: 15.52 m (50 ft 11 in)
- Wingspan: 11.13 m (36 ft 6 in)
- Height: 4.69 m (15 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 34.84 m² (375 ft²)
- Empty weight: 9,527 kg (21,000 lb)
- Loaded weight: 15,000 kg (33,000 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 22,100 kg (48,700 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× General Electric F110-GE-129 turbofan, 76 kN military thrust, 131 kN with afterburner (17,000 lbf military thrust 29,500 lbf with afterburner)
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 2.0 at altitude
- Range: 834 km on anti-ship mission (520 miles)
- Service ceiling: 18,000 m (59,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
- Wing loading: 430 kg/m² at weight of 15,000 kg (88 lb/ft²)
- Thrust/weight: 0.89
Armament
- 20 mm JM61A1 cannon, plus maximum weapon load of 8085 kg:
- AAMs: AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-7 Sparrow, Mitsubishi AAM-3
- air-to-ground weapons include: ASM-1 and ASM-2 anti-ship missiles, various free-fall bombs with CGS-1 IIR seeker heads
- Avionics: Mitsubishi Active Electronically Scanned Array radar system.
[edit] External links
[edit] Related content
Related development
Comparable aircraft
- Mig-29 - J-10 - Mirage 2000
Designation sequence
- Fighter Support Aircraft (Strike fighter) : F-86F - F-1 - F4EJ Kai - F-2
- JASDF designation: F-104J Eiko - F-4EJ/F-FEJ Kai - F-1 - F-15J - F-2
- Trainer Aircraft : T-33 - T-2 - F-2
