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The Mitsubishi F-2 is a Japanese fighter aircraft manufactured by Mitsubishi. It is based on the Lockheed Martin F-16 and that company is a major subcontractor to Mitsubishi.
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 programme has been controversial, because the unit cost is roughly 4 times that of a Block 50/52 F-16.
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 tailplane
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 the F-15 Eagle's size and weight on only one engine.
Because of issues with cost-efficiency, orders for the aircraft were severely curtailed in 2004.
Variants
- XF-2A : Single-seat prototypes.
- XF-2B : Two-seat prototypes.
- F-2A : Single-seat fighter version.
- F-2B : Two-seat training version.
Users
Specifications (F-2)
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"Mitsubishi F-2"