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Mitsubishi F-2

The Mitsubishi F-2 is a multirole fighter derived from the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, and 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 United States. The basis of the F-2's design is the F-16 Agile Falcon, an unsuccessful offer by General Dynamics to provide a low-cost alternative for the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) competition. Production started in 1996 and the first aircraft entered service in 2000.

F-2
Mitsubishi F-2B
Role Multirole fighter
National origin Japan / United States
Manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries / Lockheed Martin
First flight 7 October 1995
Introduction 2000
Status In service
Primary user Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Produced 1995–2011
Number built 98 (including 4 prototypes)[1]
Developed from General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon

The first 76 aircraft entered service by 2008, with a total of 98 airframes produced. The first active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar on a combat aircraft was the J/APG-1 introduced on the Mitsubishi F-2 in 1995.[2]

The F-2 is nicknamed "Viper Zero", a reference to the F-16's unofficial nickname of "Viper" and the Mitsubishi A6M Zero.[3]

Development edit

US–Japan negotiations edit

The JASDF and its contractors considered developing a Japanese-designed, Japanese-produced replacement for the aging Mitsubishi F-1 fighter as early as 1981. A formal feasibility study commenced in 1985.[4]

Japan's initial intentions to develop the aircraft domestically built upon Japan's previous success in producing the F-15J fighter under license from McDonnell Douglas.[5]

Japanese defense contractors argued that they needed to build a new aircraft from the beginning in order to develop the skill of their engineers and, in turn, develop the Japanese aircraft industry.[6]

As the program began to take formal shape in 1985, several United States officials raised concerns that the program would result in an inferior aircraft, and would weaken the U.S.–Japan defense relationship. Pentagon officials advocated co-production or co-development of an aircraft based on the F-16 or F/A-18 platform, as they believed that Japan would not agree to buy U.S. aircraft.[4]

In early 1987, the United States, through Caspar Weinberger and other administration officials, began formally pressuring Japan to execute the project as a U.S.–Japan bilateral joint development.[7][5] The timing of this lobbying coincided with the height of "Japan bashing" in the United States: the Toshiba-Kongsberg scandal, in which Toshiba was found to have sold propeller milling machinery to the Soviet Union in violation of COCOM sanctions, became public in May 1987. Japan's negotiating stance changed amid the risk of deterioration in U.S.–Japan relations.[4]

The Reagan administration and Nakasone government announced the joint project in October 1987.[8][9]

Under a memorandum of understanding signed in November 1988, General Dynamics would provide its F-16 Fighting Falcon technology to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and would handle up to 45 percent of the development work as a joint principal contractor.[5][8]

On the American side, senior officials in the U.S. State Department and Defense Department supported the project as a means for the U.S. to access Japanese technology and as a means of strengthening U.S.–Japan relations, but the Commerce Department and many members of Congress opposed the project due to the risk of strengthening Japan's ability to compete with U.S. aerospace firms.[7] Opponents in Congress argued that Japan should acquire American aircraft in order to offset the trade deficit between the two countries.[10] More than twenty members of the Senate demanded official review of the deal.[9]

After George H. W. Bush took office as president of the United States in January 1989, the U.S. government responded to domestic criticism of the deal by seeking "clarification" of the terms of the MOU, which the Japanese government viewed as an attempt to re-negotiate it. The Bush administration was particularly concerned with the risks of transferring technology to Japan.[7]

Bush announced a revised agreement in April 1989, shortly before the resignation of his Japanese counterpart Noboru Takeshita, under which Japanese access to flight control and weapons control software was limited, while the U.S. was to have access to any new technology that Japan developed for the project.[11] American contractors were guaranteed at least 40% of the production for the program.[10] Congress ratified the deal in June 1989 while expressing official displeasure with it.[4]

Japanese lawmaker Shintaro Ishihara was a vocal critic of the final deal, writing in 1990 that "our Foreign Ministry and other Government agencies decided it was better to eat humble pie than incur Uncle Sam's wrath on yet another bilateral issue," and pointing out that "we give away our most advanced defense technology to the United States but pay licensing and patent fees for each piece of technology we use."[5]

Production edit

Work started in the FS-X program, initially given the company designation Mitsubishi SX-3.[12] In 1984 General Dynamics had offered an enlarged version of the F-16 to the US Air Force and considered entering it as a low cost alternative in the Advanced Tactical Fighter competition. Neither came to fruition, however this concept became the starting point for F-2 development. The F-2 used the wing design of the F-16 Agile Falcon, but much of the electronics were further updated to 1990s standards. Japan selected the fighter to replace the F-4EJ and supplement the F-15J, its main air superiority fighter. The program involved technology transfer from the U.S. to Japan and vice versa.

Responsibility for cost sharing was split 60% by Japan and 40% by the U.S.[13] Lockheed Martin would manufacture all the aft fuselages and wing leading-edge flaps and eight of the ten left-hand wingboxes.[14]

The F-2 program was controversial, because the unit cost, which includes development costs, is roughly four 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 US$10 million(7.5 million) per unit, not including reduced cost from mass production. As of 2008, 94 aircraft were planned.[15]

The F-2's maiden flight was on 7 October 1995. Later that year, the Japanese government approved an order for 141 (but that was soon cut to 130), to enter service by 1999; structural problems resulted in service entry being delayed until 2000. Because of issues with cost-efficiency, orders for the aircraft were curtailed to 98 (including four prototypes) in 2004.[citation needed] Flight testing of the four prototypes were conducted by the Japan Defense Agency at Gifu Air Field.[16]

The last of 94 production aircraft ordered under contract was delivered to the Defense Ministry on 27 September 2011.[17] During the roll-out ceremony of the last production F-2 fighter jet, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries confirmed that production of the F-2 would end and no more F-2 fighters will be produced by the manufacturer.[18] As of 2014 there are 61 single-seaters flying, and 21 two-seat trainers.[19]

Design edit

General Electric, Kawasaki, Honeywell, Raytheon, NEC, Hazeltine, and Kokusai Electric were among the primary component sub-contractors. Lockheed Martin supplied the aft fuselage, leading-edge slats, stores management system, a large percentage of wingboxes (as part of two-way technology transfer agreements),[20] and other components.[21] Kawasaki built the midsection of the fuselage, as well as the doors to the main wheel and the engine,[13] while the forward fuselage and wings were built by Mitsubishi.[13]

Some of the avionics were supplied by Lockheed Martin, and the digital fly-by-wire system was jointly developed by Japan Aviation Electric and Honeywell (formerly Allied Signal).[13] Contractors for communication systems and IFF interrogators included: Raytheon, NEC, Hazeltine, and Kokusai Electric.[13] The fire control radar, IRS, the mission computer, and the EW system were developed by Japan.[22]

In addition, the flight control computer, the flight control laws and related computer software were essentially all developed and integrated by Japan.[22] Final assembly was done in Japan, by MHI at its Komaki-South facility in Nagoya.

 
F-2 and F-16 compared

Larger wings give an aircraft better payload and maneuverability in proportion to its thrust, but also tend to add weight to the airframe in various ways. More weight can have negative effects on acceleration, climbing, payload, and range. To make the larger wings lighter, the skin, spars, ribs and cap of the wings were made from graphite-epoxy composite and co-cured in an autoclave. This was the first application of co-cured technology to a production tactical fighter.[13][unreliable source?]

This technology for the wings encountered some teething problems, but proved to be a leading-edge use of a technology that provides weight savings, improved range, and some stealth benefits. This technology was then transferred back to America, as part of the program's industrial partnership.[23]

The F-2 has three display screens, including a liquid crystal display from Yokogawa.

 
Differences between F-2 and F-16 block 40

Mitsubishi used the existing F-16 design as a reference guide for design work, and more than 95% of F-16 engineering drawings are changed for F-2.[24][25]

Some differences in the F-2 from the F-16A:

Also, the F-2 is equipped with a drogue parachute,[26] like the version of the F-16 used by South Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Greece, Turkey, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Venezuela.

Operational history edit

On 7 February 2013, two Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-27 fighters briefly entered Japanese airspace off Rishiri Island near Hokkaido, flying south over the Sea of Japan before turning back to the north.[31] Four F-2 fighters were scrambled to visually confirm the Russian planes,[32] warning them by radio to leave their airspace.[33]

A photo taken by a JASDF pilot of one of the two Su-27s was released by the Japan Ministry of Defense.[34] Russia denied the incursion, saying the jets were making routine flights near the disputed Kuril Islands.[31]

On 22 August 2013, two Russian Tupolev Tu-142 Bear-F maritime patrol aircraft entered Japanese airspace near the major southern island of Kyushu for less than two minutes. F-2 fighters were scrambled in response.[35]

Variants edit

 
F-2 taxiing during the 2009 Cope North exercise

Operators edit

  Japan

As of March 2022, the JASDF operated 91 F-2.[38]

Air Defense Command
Air Training Command
Air Development and Test Command

Accidents and incidents edit

  • On 31 October 2007, an F-2B crashed during takeoff and subsequently caught fire at Nagoya Airfield in central Japan. The jet was being taken up on a test flight by Mitsubishi employees, after major maintenance and before being delivered to the JSDF. Both test pilots survived the incident with only minor injuries.[40] It was eventually determined that improper wiring caused the crash.[41][42]
  • As a result of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, 18 F-2Bs belonging to the 21st Fighter Squadron at Matsushima Air Base were damaged or destroyed.[39][43] Of these 18, 5 were deemed beyond repair and have been scrapped. The remaining 13 F-2s are being repaired at the estimated cost of ¥80 billion (2011)[44] (equivalent to ¥84.33 billion or US$773.63 million in 2019)[45]. In the meantime, training duties carried out by the 21st Fighter Squadron have been transferred to other air bases. Repair work was completed by 2016, when the 21st Squadron returned to Matsushima.[46]
  • On 20 February 2019, an F-2B crashed during a training flight over the Sea of Japan. Both the flight instructor and pilot survived the accident.[47]
  • In April 2021, two F-2 jets (an F-2A and an F-2B) flying in formation, had a minor mid-air collision over Yamaguchi Prefecture. They safely landed afterwards with no reported injuries and little damage to the jets. [48]

Specifications (F-2A) edit

 
Mitsubishi F-2A
 
Mitsubishi AAM-4 air-to-air missile
 
ASM-2 air-to-surface missile
 
A JASDF F-2 loaded with AIM-7 Sparrow AAMs and AAM-3 SRAAMs.
 
JASDF F-2 carries XASM-3 at Gifu air base May 2017

Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 2010–11,[49] Combat Aircraft since 1945[50]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1 (F-2B: 2)
  • Length: 15.52 m (50 ft 11 in)
  • Wingspan: 11.125 m (36 ft 6 in) over missile launchers
10.8 m (35 ft) without missile launchers
  • Wing area: 34.84 m2 (375.0 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 3.3
  • Empty weight: 9,527 kg (21,003 lb)
F-2B: 9,633 kg (21,237 lb)
  • Gross weight: 13,459 kg (29,672 lb) clean
  • Max takeoff weight: 22,100 kg (48,722 lb) * Maximum landing weight: 18,300 kg (40,300 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 4,637 L (1,225 US gal; 1,020 imp gal) maximum internal fuel 4,588 L (1,212 US gal; 1,009 imp gal) usable
F-2B 3,948 L (1,043 US gal; 868 imp gal) maximum internal fuel 3,903 L (1,031 US gal; 859 imp gal) usable
  • External Fuel capacity: 5,678 L (1,500 US gal; 1,249 imp gal) maximum – (1x 1,135.5 L (300.0 US gal; 249.8 imp gal) + 2x 2,271.25 L (600.00 US gal; 499.61 imp gal) drop-tanks)
  • Powerplant: 1 × General Electric F110-IHI-129 afterburning turbofan, 76 kN (17,000 lbf) thrust dry, 131 kN (29,500 lbf) with afterburner

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 2,124 km/h (1,320 mph, 1,147 kn)
  • Maximum speed: Mach 2.0 at high altitude, Mach 1.1 at low altitude
  • Combat range: 833 km (518 mi, 450 nmi) +
  • Service ceiling: 18,000 m (59,000 ft)
  • Wing loading: 634.3 kg/m2 (129.9 lb/sq ft) maximum
  • Thrust/weight: 0.994

Armament

Avionics

See also edit

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ Hehs, Eric (12 November 2015). "Japan's F-2 Support Fighter". Code One Magazine. from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  2. ^ John Pike. "F-2 Support Fighter / FSX". from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  3. ^ Roblin, Sebastien. "Tsunami Devastated Japan's Souped Up F-16s. 2019-05-08 at the Wayback Machine, The National Interest August 21, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d Spar, Debora (1991–1992). "Co-Developing the FSX Fighter: The Domestic Calculus of International Co-Operation". International Journal. 47 (2): 265–292. doi:10.1177/002070209204700204. S2CID 147156320. from the original on 2017-10-12. Retrieved 2017-10-11 – via HeinOnline.
  5. ^ a b c d Ishihara, Shintaro (1990-01-14). "FSX – Japan's Last Bad Deal". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on 2017-10-11. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
  6. ^ Yates, Ronald E. (1987-05-17). "U.S., Japan Wrestle Over Who Will Build Jet". Chicago Tribune. from the original on 2017-10-11. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
  7. ^ a b c Hiatt, Fred (1989-03-23). "Japan Calls on U.S. to Honor FSX Jet Pact". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. from the original on 2017-10-11. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
  8. ^ a b "Restricting The Japanese Fighter Deal". Chicago Tribune. 1989-03-24. from the original on 2017-10-11. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
  9. ^ a b Sanger, David E. (1989-02-20). "Technology Pact for Fighter Creates Dispute With Japan". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on 2017-10-11. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
  10. ^ a b "Bush Clears Way for FSX Fighter Deal With Japan". Los Angeles Times. 1989-04-30. ISSN 0458-3035. from the original on 2017-10-12. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
  11. ^ Lauter, David; Pine, Aart (1989-04-29). "U.S., Japan Agree on FSX Jet Fighter : Bush Announces Accord on $8-Billion Joint Project; Critics Vow Opposition". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. from the original on 2012-12-09. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
  12. ^ John W.R. Taylor, ed. (1988). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988–89. London: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "F-2 Attack Fighter, Japan". Airforce-technology.com. from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 22 Apr 2012.
  14. ^ Breen, Tom (21 October 1996). . Defense Daily. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  15. ^ "Lockheed Martin Gets $250M F-2 Contract". Forbes. 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-09.[dead link]
  16. ^ . Defense Daily. 23 April 1998. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  17. ^ Jiji Press, "Final F-2 fighter delivered to ASDF", Japan Times, 29 September 2011, p. 2.
  18. ^ . AirForceWorld.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 1 Oct 2011.
  19. ^ Hoyle, Craig (24 October 2014), "Big in Japan: Tokyo's Top 10 aircraft projects", Flightglobal, Reed Business Information, from the original on 24 October 2014, retrieved 24 October 2014
  20. ^ . AirForceWorld.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  21. ^ Lockheed Martin Press Release April 8, 2008
  22. ^ a b Lorell, Mark (1995). Troubled Partnership: History of US-Japan Collaboration on the FS-X Fighter (PDF). RAND. p. 383. ISBN 1560008911. (PDF) from the original on 2021-08-12. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  23. ^ "Lockheed & Mitsubishi's F-2 Fighter Partnership". Defenseindustrydaily.com. from the original on 21 May 2018. Retrieved 22 Apr 2012.
  24. ^ Lorell, Mark (1995). Troubled Partnership: History of US-Japan Collaboration on the FS-X Fighter (PDF). RAND. p. 380. ISBN 1560008911. (PDF) from the original on 2021-08-12. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  25. ^ Kanda, Kuniichi (2018). 主任設計者が明かすF-2戦闘機開発 [F-2 fighter development explained by the chief designer] (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: Namiki shobo. p. 201. ISBN 978-4890633791.
  26. ^ a b c d e Eric, Hehs (2015-11-12). "Japan's F-2 Support Fighter". CodeOneMagazine.com. from the original on 2020-12-04. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  27. ^ "Boeing Delivers Final AESA-Equipped F-15 Aircraft to U.S. Air Force". from the original on 2022-07-17. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  28. ^ "Japan Upgrading 60 F-2s With AAM-4, J/APG-2 | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com. from the original on 2019-12-30. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
  29. ^ Kenji, Fujimura; Yuasa, Hiroshi; Konishi, Tomoyuki; Nishi, Hiroshi; Fujisaki, takumi (April 5, 2000). XF-2のアビオニクス設計 [XF-2 Avionics Design]. The Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences. 555 (in Japanese). 48 (555). Aerospace Technology Japan: 256. doi:10.14822/kjsass.48.555_252. from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  30. ^ Ide, Masaki; Horie, Kazuhiro; Katayanagi, Ryoji; Yamamoto, Masaki; Hashimoto, Kazunori; Satake, Nobumasa (April 5, 2000). XF-2の飛行制御システム設計 [XF-2 Flight Control System Design]. The Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences. 555 (in Japanese). 48 (555). Aerospace Technology Japan: 233–240. doi:10.14822/kjsass.48.555_233. from the original on July 2, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  31. ^ a b "Russian fighter jets 'breach Japan airspace'", BBC News, 7 Feb 2013, from the original on 6 August 2017, retrieved 20 June 2018
  32. ^ Japan accuses Russian jets of violating airspace, Dawn.com, 7 Feb 2013, from the original on 8 February 2013, retrieved 9 Feb 2013
  33. ^ Japan scrambles fighter jets as Russian warplanes intrude into airspace, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), 7 Feb 2013, from the original on 16 May 2013, retrieved 10 Feb 2013
  34. ^ Japan says 2 Russian fighters entered its airspace, Yahoo! News, 7 Feb 2013, from the original on 11 February 2013, retrieved 9 Feb 2013
  35. ^ Japan scrambles jets, accusing Russian bombers of intrusion 2016-03-07 at the Wayback Machine. Reuters, 22 August 2013.
  36. ^ a b c "ODIN - OE Data Integration Network".
  37. ^ a b "Mitsubishi F-2".
  38. ^ Japan Ministry of Defence
  39. ^ a b "About the Flightglobal Group – Blogs Announcement". Flightglobal.com. from the original on 19 October 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  40. ^ . The Japan Times. 2007-11-01. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
  41. ^ . Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  42. ^ "JASDF F-2 Update – General F-16 forum". from the original on 8 August 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  43. ^ . Asahi Shimbun. 2011-03-12. Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
  44. ^ Watanabe, Takashi (2011-09-16). . The Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on 2011-09-17. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
  45. ^ 1868 to 1938: Williamson J., Nominal Wage, Cost of Living, Real Wage and Land Rent Data for Japan 1831-1938, 1939 to 1945: Bank of Japan Historical Statistics Afterwards, Japanese Historical Consumer Price Index numbers based on data available from the Japanese Statistics Bureau. Japan Historical Consumer Price Index (CPI) – 1970 to 2014 Retrieved 30 July 2014. For between 1946 and 1970, from "昭和戦後史". Retrieved 2015-01-24.
  46. ^ "JASDF – Order of Battle". J-Hangerspace. February 9, 2019. from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  47. ^ Takahashi, Kosuke (2019-02-21). . Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 2019-02-21. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  48. ^ "F-2 fighters collide in midair above west Japan". Mainichi Daily News. April 23, 2021. from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  49. ^ Jackson, Paul, ed. (2009). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 2010–11 (101st ed.). London: Jane's Information Group. pp. 422–424. ISBN 978-0-7106-29166.
  50. ^ Wilson, Stewart (2000). Combat aircraft since 1945 (1st ed.). Fyshwick, Australia: Aerospace Publications. p. 106. ISBN 1-875671-50-1.

Bibliography edit

  • Aoki, Yoshimoto. "Mitsubishi F-2: 21st Century JASDF fighter-support". World Air Power Journal, Volume 39, Winter 1999. London:Aerospace Publishing. ISBN 1-86184-039-X. ISSN 0959-7050. pp. 38–49.
  • (accessed on February 9, 2007)
  • 主要装備 F-2A/B|防衛省 [JASDF] 航空自衛隊 (accessed on February 9, 2007)
  • John W.R. Taylor, ed. (1988). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988–89. London: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.

External links edit

  • F-2 at Globalsecurity.org

mitsubishi, redirects, here, video, game, microsoft, flight, simulator, multirole, fighter, derived, from, general, dynamics, fighting, falcon, manufactured, mitsubishi, heavy, industries, lockheed, martin, japan, self, defense, force, with, split, manufacturi. FS X redirects here For the video game see Microsoft Flight Simulator X The Mitsubishi F 2 is a multirole fighter derived from the General Dynamics F 16 Fighting Falcon and 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 United States The basis of the F 2 s design is the F 16 Agile Falcon an unsuccessful offer by General Dynamics to provide a low cost alternative for the Advanced Tactical Fighter ATF competition Production started in 1996 and the first aircraft entered service in 2000 F 2 Mitsubishi F 2B Role Multirole fighter National origin Japan United States Manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Lockheed Martin First flight 7 October 1995 Introduction 2000 Status In service Primary user Japan Air Self Defense Force Produced 1995 2011 Number built 98 including 4 prototypes 1 Developed from General Dynamics F 16 Fighting Falcon The first 76 aircraft entered service by 2008 with a total of 98 airframes produced The first active electronically scanned array AESA radar on a combat aircraft was the J APG 1 introduced on the Mitsubishi F 2 in 1995 2 The F 2 is nicknamed Viper Zero a reference to the F 16 s unofficial nickname of Viper and the Mitsubishi A6M Zero 3 Contents 1 Development 1 1 US Japan negotiations 1 2 Production 2 Design 3 Operational history 4 Variants 5 Operators 6 Accidents and incidents 7 Specifications F 2A 8 See also 9 References 9 1 Citations 9 2 Bibliography 10 External linksDevelopment editUS Japan negotiations edit The JASDF and its contractors considered developing a Japanese designed Japanese produced replacement for the aging Mitsubishi F 1 fighter as early as 1981 A formal feasibility study commenced in 1985 4 Japan s initial intentions to develop the aircraft domestically built upon Japan s previous success in producing the F 15J fighter under license from McDonnell Douglas 5 Japanese defense contractors argued that they needed to build a new aircraft from the beginning in order to develop the skill of their engineers and in turn develop the Japanese aircraft industry 6 As the program began to take formal shape in 1985 several United States officials raised concerns that the program would result in an inferior aircraft and would weaken the U S Japan defense relationship Pentagon officials advocated co production or co development of an aircraft based on the F 16 or F A 18 platform as they believed that Japan would not agree to buy U S aircraft 4 In early 1987 the United States through Caspar Weinberger and other administration officials began formally pressuring Japan to execute the project as a U S Japan bilateral joint development 7 5 The timing of this lobbying coincided with the height of Japan bashing in the United States the Toshiba Kongsberg scandal in which Toshiba was found to have sold propeller milling machinery to the Soviet Union in violation of COCOM sanctions became public in May 1987 Japan s negotiating stance changed amid the risk of deterioration in U S Japan relations 4 The Reagan administration and Nakasone government announced the joint project in October 1987 8 9 Under a memorandum of understanding signed in November 1988 General Dynamics would provide its F 16 Fighting Falcon technology to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and would handle up to 45 percent of the development work as a joint principal contractor 5 8 On the American side senior officials in the U S State Department and Defense Department supported the project as a means for the U S to access Japanese technology and as a means of strengthening U S Japan relations but the Commerce Department and many members of Congress opposed the project due to the risk of strengthening Japan s ability to compete with U S aerospace firms 7 Opponents in Congress argued that Japan should acquire American aircraft in order to offset the trade deficit between the two countries 10 More than twenty members of the Senate demanded official review of the deal 9 After George H W Bush took office as president of the United States in January 1989 the U S government responded to domestic criticism of the deal by seeking clarification of the terms of the MOU which the Japanese government viewed as an attempt to re negotiate it The Bush administration was particularly concerned with the risks of transferring technology to Japan 7 Bush announced a revised agreement in April 1989 shortly before the resignation of his Japanese counterpart Noboru Takeshita under which Japanese access to flight control and weapons control software was limited while the U S was to have access to any new technology that Japan developed for the project 11 American contractors were guaranteed at least 40 of the production for the program 10 Congress ratified the deal in June 1989 while expressing official displeasure with it 4 Japanese lawmaker Shintaro Ishihara was a vocal critic of the final deal writing in 1990 that our Foreign Ministry and other Government agencies decided it was better to eat humble pie than incur Uncle Sam s wrath on yet another bilateral issue and pointing out that we give away our most advanced defense technology to the United States but pay licensing and patent fees for each piece of technology we use 5 Production edit Work started in the FS X program initially given the company designation Mitsubishi SX 3 12 In 1984 General Dynamics had offered an enlarged version of the F 16 to the US Air Force and considered entering it as a low cost alternative in the Advanced Tactical Fighter competition Neither came to fruition however this concept became the starting point for F 2 development The F 2 used the wing design of the F 16 Agile Falcon but much of the electronics were further updated to 1990s standards Japan selected the fighter to replace the F 4EJ and supplement the F 15J its main air superiority fighter The program involved technology transfer from the U S to Japan and vice versa Responsibility for cost sharing was split 60 by Japan and 40 by the U S 13 Lockheed Martin would manufacture all the aft fuselages and wing leading edge flaps and eight of the ten left hand wingboxes 14 The F 2 program was controversial because the unit cost which includes development costs is roughly four 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 US 10 million 7 5 million per unit not including reduced cost from mass production As of 2008 94 aircraft were planned 15 The F 2 s maiden flight was on 7 October 1995 Later that year the Japanese government approved an order for 141 but that was soon cut to 130 to enter service by 1999 structural problems resulted in service entry being delayed until 2000 Because of issues with cost efficiency orders for the aircraft were curtailed to 98 including four prototypes in 2004 citation needed Flight testing of the four prototypes were conducted by the Japan Defense Agency at Gifu Air Field 16 The last of 94 production aircraft ordered under contract was delivered to the Defense Ministry on 27 September 2011 17 During the roll out ceremony of the last production F 2 fighter jet Mitsubishi Heavy Industries confirmed that production of the F 2 would end and no more F 2 fighters will be produced by the manufacturer 18 As of 2014 update there are 61 single seaters flying and 21 two seat trainers 19 Design editGeneral Electric Kawasaki Honeywell Raytheon NEC Hazeltine and Kokusai Electric were among the primary component sub contractors Lockheed Martin supplied the aft fuselage leading edge slats stores management system a large percentage of wingboxes as part of two way technology transfer agreements 20 and other components 21 Kawasaki built the midsection of the fuselage as well as the doors to the main wheel and the engine 13 while the forward fuselage and wings were built by Mitsubishi 13 Some of the avionics were supplied by Lockheed Martin and the digital fly by wire system was jointly developed by Japan Aviation Electric and Honeywell formerly Allied Signal 13 Contractors for communication systems and IFF interrogators included Raytheon NEC Hazeltine and Kokusai Electric 13 The fire control radar IRS the mission computer and the EW system were developed by Japan 22 In addition the flight control computer the flight control laws and related computer software were essentially all developed and integrated by Japan 22 Final assembly was done in Japan by MHI at its Komaki South facility in Nagoya nbsp F 2 and F 16 compared Larger wings give an aircraft better payload and maneuverability in proportion to its thrust but also tend to add weight to the airframe in various ways More weight can have negative effects on acceleration climbing payload and range To make the larger wings lighter the skin spars ribs and cap of the wings were made from graphite epoxy composite and co cured in an autoclave This was the first application of co cured technology to a production tactical fighter 13 unreliable source This technology for the wings encountered some teething problems but proved to be a leading edge use of a technology that provides weight savings improved range and some stealth benefits This technology was then transferred back to America as part of the program s industrial partnership 23 The F 2 has three display screens including a liquid crystal display from Yokogawa nbsp Differences between F 2 and F 16 block 40 Mitsubishi used the existing F 16 design as a reference guide for design work and more than 95 of F 16 engineering drawings are changed for F 2 24 25 Some differences in the F 2 from the F 16A a 25 larger wing area 26 composite materials used 26 to reduce overall weight and radar signature longer and wider nose to accommodate a J APG 1 J APG 2 active electronically scanned array AESA radar Almost simultaneously with a single squadron of USAF F 15C Eagles the F 2 was the first operational military aircraft in the world to feature an AESA radar 27 28 26 before the F 22 Raptor s AN APG 77 AESA radar larger tailplane 26 larger air intake citation needed three piece cockpit canopy Equipments and OFP related to the avionics system differ from the F 16 in many aspects 29 Original flight control system 30 capabilities for four ASM 1 or ASM 2 anti ship missiles four AAMs and additional fuel tanks Also the F 2 is equipped with a drogue parachute 26 like the version of the F 16 used by South Korea the Netherlands Norway Greece Turkey Indonesia Taiwan and Venezuela Operational history editOn 7 February 2013 two Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su 27 fighters briefly entered Japanese airspace off Rishiri Island near Hokkaido flying south over the Sea of Japan before turning back to the north 31 Four F 2 fighters were scrambled to visually confirm the Russian planes 32 warning them by radio to leave their airspace 33 A photo taken by a JASDF pilot of one of the two Su 27s was released by the Japan Ministry of Defense 34 Russia denied the incursion saying the jets were making routine flights near the disputed Kuril Islands 31 On 22 August 2013 two Russian Tupolev Tu 142 Bear F maritime patrol aircraft entered Japanese airspace near the major southern island of Kyushu for less than two minutes F 2 fighters were scrambled in response 35 Variants edit nbsp F 2 taxiing during the 2009 Cope North exercise XF 2A Single seat prototypes 36 XF 2B Two seat prototypes 36 F 2A Single seat fighter version 37 F 2B Two seat training version 37 36 F 2A Super Kai proposed variant with CFTs conformal fuel tanks based on the F 16C Block 60 It was intended to replace the F 4EJ Kai Phantom II It was rejected when the F 35A Lightning II was chosen Operators edit nbsp Japan Japan Air Self Defense Force As of March 2022 the JASDF operated 91 F 2 38 Air Defense Command Central Air Defense Force 7th Air Wing Hyakuri Air Base 3rd Tactical Fighter Squadron 2001 present Western Air Defense Force 8th Wing Tsuiki Air Base 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron 2004 present 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron 2008 present Air Training Command 1st Technical School Hamamatsu Air Base 2000 present 4th Air Wing Matsushima Air Base 21st Fighter Training Squadron Reactivated 39 Air Development and Test Command Air Development and Test Wing Gifu Air BaseAccidents and incidents editOn 31 October 2007 an F 2B crashed during takeoff and subsequently caught fire at Nagoya Airfield in central Japan The jet was being taken up on a test flight by Mitsubishi employees after major maintenance and before being delivered to the JSDF Both test pilots survived the incident with only minor injuries 40 It was eventually determined that improper wiring caused the crash 41 42 As a result of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami 18 F 2Bs belonging to the 21st Fighter Squadron at Matsushima Air Base were damaged or destroyed 39 43 Of these 18 5 were deemed beyond repair and have been scrapped The remaining 13 F 2s are being repaired at the estimated cost of 80 billion 2011 44 equivalent to 84 33 billion or US 773 63 million in 2019 45 In the meantime training duties carried out by the 21st Fighter Squadron have been transferred to other air bases Repair work was completed by 2016 when the 21st Squadron returned to Matsushima 46 On 20 February 2019 an F 2B crashed during a training flight over the Sea of Japan Both the flight instructor and pilot survived the accident 47 In April 2021 two F 2 jets an F 2A and an F 2B flying in formation had a minor mid air collision over Yamaguchi Prefecture They safely landed afterwards with no reported injuries and little damage to the jets 48 Specifications F 2A edit nbsp Mitsubishi F 2A nbsp Mitsubishi AAM 4 air to air missile nbsp ASM 2 air to surface missile nbsp A JASDF F 2 loaded with AIM 7 Sparrow AAMs and AAM 3 SRAAMs nbsp JASDF F 2 carries XASM 3 at Gifu air base May 2017 Data from Jane s all the World s Aircraft 2010 11 49 Combat Aircraft since 1945 50 General characteristicsCrew 1 F 2B 2 Length 15 52 m 50 ft 11 in Wingspan 11 125 m 36 ft 6 in over missile launchers 10 8 m 35 ft without missile launchers dd dd dd Wing area 34 84 m2 375 0 sq ft Aspect ratio 3 3 Empty weight 9 527 kg 21 003 lb F 2B 9 633 kg 21 237 lb dd dd dd Gross weight 13 459 kg 29 672 lb clean Max takeoff weight 22 100 kg 48 722 lb Maximum landing weight 18 300 kg 40 300 lb Fuel capacity 4 637 L 1 225 US gal 1 020 imp gal maximum internal fuel 4 588 L 1 212 US gal 1 009 imp gal usable F 2B 3 948 L 1 043 US gal 868 imp gal maximum internal fuel 3 903 L 1 031 US gal 859 imp gal usable dd dd dd External Fuel capacity 5 678 L 1 500 US gal 1 249 imp gal maximum 1x 1 135 5 L 300 0 US gal 249 8 imp gal 2x 2 271 25 L 600 00 US gal 499 61 imp gal drop tanks Powerplant 1 General Electric F110 IHI 129 afterburning turbofan 76 kN 17 000 lbf thrust dry 131 kN 29 500 lbf with afterburner Performance Maximum speed 2 124 km h 1 320 mph 1 147 kn Maximum speed Mach 2 0 at high altitude Mach 1 1 at low altitude Combat range 833 km 518 mi 450 nmi Service ceiling 18 000 m 59 000 ft Wing loading 634 3 kg m2 129 9 lb sq ft maximum Thrust weight 0 994 Armament 20 mm JM61A1 cannon plus maximum weapon load of 8 085 kg Rocket pod JLAU 3 A AAMs Mitsubishi AAM 3 Mitsubishi AAM 4 Mitsubishi AAM 5 AIM 9 Sidewinder AIM 7 Sparrow air to ground weapons include ASM 1 and ASM 2 anti ship missiles various free fall bombs with GCS 1 IIR seeker heads JDAM AGM 65 Maverick others J AAQ 2 FLIR later AN AAQ 33 Avionics Mitsubishi J APG 2 AESA radar system Raytheon Technologies AN ARC 164 Have Quick UHF transceiverSee also edit nbsp Aviation portal Fighter units of the Japan Air Self Defense Force Related development General Dynamics F 16 Fighting Falcon AIDC F CK 1 Ching kuo KAI T 50 Golden Eagle Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Chengdu J 10 Saab JAS 39 Gripen Related lists List of fighter aircraftReferences editCitations edit Hehs Eric 12 November 2015 Japan s F 2 Support Fighter Code One Magazine Archived from the original on 4 December 2020 Retrieved 1 August 2023 John Pike F 2 Support Fighter FSX Archived from the original on 31 May 2012 Retrieved 1 February 2016 Roblin Sebastien Tsunami Devastated Japan s Souped Up F 16s Archived 2019 05 08 at the Wayback Machine The National Interest August 21 2018 Retrieved January 27 2019 a b c d Spar Debora 1991 1992 Co Developing the FSX Fighter The Domestic Calculus of International Co Operation International Journal 47 2 265 292 doi 10 1177 002070209204700204 S2CID 147156320 Archived from the original on 2017 10 12 Retrieved 2017 10 11 via HeinOnline a b c d Ishihara Shintaro 1990 01 14 FSX Japan s Last Bad Deal The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on 2017 10 11 Retrieved 2017 10 11 Yates Ronald E 1987 05 17 U S Japan Wrestle Over Who Will Build Jet Chicago Tribune Archived from the original on 2017 10 11 Retrieved 2017 10 11 a b c Hiatt Fred 1989 03 23 Japan Calls on U S to Honor FSX Jet Pact Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Archived from the original on 2017 10 11 Retrieved 2017 10 11 a b Restricting The Japanese Fighter Deal Chicago Tribune 1989 03 24 Archived from the original on 2017 10 11 Retrieved 2017 10 11 a b Sanger David E 1989 02 20 Technology Pact for Fighter Creates Dispute With Japan The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on 2017 10 11 Retrieved 2017 10 11 a b Bush Clears Way for FSX Fighter Deal With Japan Los Angeles Times 1989 04 30 ISSN 0458 3035 Archived from the original on 2017 10 12 Retrieved 2017 10 11 Lauter David Pine Aart 1989 04 29 U S Japan Agree on FSX Jet Fighter Bush Announces Accord on 8 Billion Joint Project Critics Vow Opposition Los Angeles Times ISSN 0458 3035 Archived from the original on 2012 12 09 Retrieved 2017 10 11 John W R Taylor ed 1988 Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1988 89 London Jane s Information Group ISBN 0 7106 0867 5 a b c d e f F 2 Attack Fighter Japan Airforce technology com Archived from the original on 30 September 2020 Retrieved 22 Apr 2012 Breen Tom 21 October 1996 Lockheed Martin starts beefing up work force for Japan s F 2 Defense Daily Archived from the original on 24 September 2015 Retrieved 27 May 2015 Lockheed Martin Gets 250M F 2 Contract Forbes 2008 Retrieved 2008 04 09 dead link Lockheed Martin continues work for Japan s F 2 fighter Defense Daily 23 April 1998 Archived from the original on 24 September 2015 Retrieved 28 May 2015 Jiji Press Final F 2 fighter delivered to ASDF Japan Times 29 September 2011 p 2 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries end production of F 2 fighter AirForceWorld com Archived from the original on 2011 10 02 Retrieved 1 Oct 2011 Hoyle Craig 24 October 2014 Big in Japan Tokyo s Top 10 aircraft projects Flightglobal Reed Business Information archived from the original on 24 October 2014 retrieved 24 October 2014 Mitsubishi F 2 Fighter Japan Technology Transfer Agreement AirForceWorld com Archived from the original on 2 October 2011 Retrieved 1 July 2011 Lockheed Martin Press Release April 8 2008 a b Lorell Mark 1995 Troubled Partnership History of US Japan Collaboration on the FS X Fighter PDF RAND p 383 ISBN 1560008911 Archived PDF from the original on 2021 08 12 Retrieved 2020 11 12 Lockheed amp Mitsubishi s F 2 Fighter Partnership Defenseindustrydaily com Archived from the original on 21 May 2018 Retrieved 22 Apr 2012 Lorell Mark 1995 Troubled Partnership History of US Japan Collaboration on the FS X Fighter PDF RAND p 380 ISBN 1560008911 Archived PDF from the original on 2021 08 12 Retrieved 2020 11 12 Kanda Kuniichi 2018 主任設計者が明かすF 2戦闘機開発 F 2 fighter development explained by the chief designer in Japanese Tokyo Japan Namiki shobo p 201 ISBN 978 4890633791 a b c d e Eric Hehs 2015 11 12 Japan s F 2 Support Fighter CodeOneMagazine com Archived from the original on 2020 12 04 Retrieved 2020 08 05 Boeing Delivers Final AESA Equipped F 15 Aircraft to U S Air Force Archived from the original on 2022 07 17 Retrieved 2022 07 17 Japan Upgrading 60 F 2s With AAM 4 J APG 2 Aviation Week Network aviationweek com Archived from the original on 2019 12 30 Retrieved 2020 03 20 Kenji Fujimura Yuasa Hiroshi Konishi Tomoyuki Nishi Hiroshi Fujisaki takumi April 5 2000 XF 2のアビオニクス設計 XF 2 Avionics Design The Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences 555 in Japanese 48 555 Aerospace Technology Japan 256 doi 10 14822 kjsass 48 555 252 Archived from the original on May 12 2022 Retrieved September 10 2020 Ide Masaki Horie Kazuhiro Katayanagi Ryoji Yamamoto Masaki Hashimoto Kazunori Satake Nobumasa April 5 2000 XF 2の飛行制御システム設計 XF 2 Flight Control System Design The Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences 555 in Japanese 48 555 Aerospace Technology Japan 233 240 doi 10 14822 kjsass 48 555 233 Archived from the original on July 2 2021 Retrieved September 10 2020 a b Russian fighter jets breach Japan airspace BBC News 7 Feb 2013 archived from the original on 6 August 2017 retrieved 20 June 2018 Japan accuses Russian jets of violating airspace Dawn com 7 Feb 2013 archived from the original on 8 February 2013 retrieved 9 Feb 2013 Japan scrambles fighter jets as Russian warplanes intrude into airspace Kuwait News Agency KUNA 7 Feb 2013 archived from the original on 16 May 2013 retrieved 10 Feb 2013 Japan says 2 Russian fighters entered its airspace Yahoo News 7 Feb 2013 archived from the original on 11 February 2013 retrieved 9 Feb 2013 Japan scrambles jets accusing Russian bombers of intrusion Archived 2016 03 07 at the Wayback Machine Reuters 22 August 2013 a b c ODIN OE Data Integration Network a b Mitsubishi F 2 Defence of Japan 2022 Annual White Paper p 53 Japan Ministry of Defence a b About the Flightglobal Group Blogs Announcement Flightglobal com Archived from the original on 19 October 2011 Retrieved 1 February 2016 ASDF F 2 crashes on takeoff pilots hurt The Japan Times 2007 11 01 Archived from the original on 2017 12 01 Retrieved 2007 11 01 そうなのかな Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 1 February 2016 JASDF F 2 Update General F 16 forum Archived from the original on 8 August 2012 Retrieved 1 February 2016 F2戦闘機18機など水没 松島基地 1機120億円 Asahi Shimbun 2011 03 12 Archived from the original on 2011 06 29 Retrieved 2011 03 11 Watanabe Takashi 2011 09 16 Air SDF to scrap 12 fighters citing tsunami damage The Asahi Shimbun Archived from the original on 2011 09 17 Retrieved 2011 09 16 1868 to 1938 Williamson J Nominal Wage Cost of Living Real Wage and Land Rent Data for Japan 1831 1938 1939 to 1945 Bank of Japan Historical Statistics Afterwards Japanese Historical Consumer Price Index numbers based on data available from the Japanese Statistics Bureau Japan Historical Consumer Price Index CPI 1970 to 2014 Retrieved 30 July 2014 For between 1946 and 1970 from 昭和戦後史 Retrieved 2015 01 24 JASDF Order of Battle J Hangerspace February 9 2019 Archived from the original on February 12 2019 Retrieved February 9 2019 Takahashi Kosuke 2019 02 21 JASDF F 2 fighter crashes into Sea of Japan Jane s 360 Archived from the original on 2019 02 21 Retrieved 2019 02 21 F 2 fighters collide in midair above west Japan Mainichi Daily News April 23 2021 Archived from the original on July 31 2021 Retrieved July 31 2021 Jackson Paul ed 2009 Jane s all the World s Aircraft 2010 11 101st ed London Jane s Information Group pp 422 424 ISBN 978 0 7106 29166 Wilson Stewart 2000 Combat aircraft since 1945 1st ed Fyshwick Australia Aerospace Publications p 106 ISBN 1 875671 50 1 Bibliography edit Aoki Yoshimoto Mitsubishi F 2 21st Century JASDF fighter support World Air Power Journal Volume 39 Winter 1999 London Aerospace Publishing ISBN 1 86184 039 X ISSN 0959 7050 pp 38 49 Organization JASDF Japan Air Self Defense Force accessed on February 9 2007 主要装備 F 2A B 防衛省 JASDF 航空自衛隊 accessed on February 9 2007 John W R Taylor ed 1988 Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1988 89 London Jane s Information Group ISBN 0 7106 0867 5 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mitsubishi F 2 JASDF Official F 2 webpage in Japanese F 2 at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries F 2 at Lockheed Martin F 2 at Globalsecurity org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mitsubishi F 2 amp oldid 1220490659, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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