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The Mitsubishi F-2 is a Japanese fighter aircraft manufactured by
Mitsubishi. It is based on the American F-16.
History
In October 1987, Japan selected the F-16 as the basis of its new fighter,
to replace the Mitsubishi F-1. The F-2 program has been controversial,
because the unit cost is roughly 4 times that of a Block 50/52 F-16, but
this demonstrates Japan's commitment to its aerospace industry.
Some differences in the F-2 from the F-16:
- a 25% larger wing area
- radar absorbent materials have been used on the leading edges
- longer nose to accommodate a phased-array radar
- larger tail
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 2001.
Characteristics
- Role: single seat fighter
- Power plant: General Electric F110-GE-129 turbofan giving 7,718 kgf
(75.62 kN, 17,000 lbf) military thrust and 13,393 kgf (131.22 kN, 29,500
lbf) maximum thrust with afterburning
Size:
- Length: 15.52 m
- Height: 4.69 m
- Wingspan: 11.13 m
- Wing area: 34.84 mē
Weight:
- Empty: 9,527 kg
- Normal Takeoff: 15,000 kg (?)
- Maximum: 22,100 kg
Speed:
Ceiling:
Range:
- on anti-ship mission: 834 km
Wing Loading:
- 430 kg/mē at weight of 15,000 kg
Thrust/weight ratio:
- 0.89 at weight of 15,000 kg
Armament:
- 20mm 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
Cost:
- if an F-16 is USD 25 m, an F-2 is probably about USD 100 m
First flew:
In service date:
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