The F-2 is one of the key assets of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, shortly JASDF. Its
development process caused lots of struggles, even international crises. At first glance,
this aircraft may be seen as an F-16 on steroids, but in detail, it is a quite different fighter.
As the Weapon Detective, we are investigating the F-2, aka Viper Zero.
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The unofficial nickname of the F-2, Viper Zero, refers to the F-16's semi-official nickname
of "Viper" and the Japanese legendary Second World War fighter Mitsubishi A6M Zero. The
only user of the aircraft, the JASDF, defines it as a 4.5th generation fighter. This is
a true definition to a certain extend. Before we begin our analysis, we should know the
support fighter concept of the JASDF, developed in 1977 to better understand the F-2. The
mission of a support fighter was to perform anti-ship attacks, ground attacks, and close
air support, as well as dealing with air threats. Different from a multi-role fighter, its air-to-air
combat capability was secondary. At first, the JASDF used the F-86Fs as the
support fighters. They were replaced by the Mitsubishi F-1s in a short time.
But, just after the introduction of the F-1 in 1978, Japan began a study on the next support
fighter. The F-1 had a 3,500-hour lifespan, so the aircraft of the first F-1 squadron
would have to be replaced before 1990. In 1982, Japan approved the development of
the next support fighter. The new aircraft would have a fly-by-wire flight control system,
all-weather operation capability and an advanced electronic warfare suite. Also, the JASDF
demanded enhanced air-to-air combat capability. The new aircraft would carry four anti-ship
missiles as well as air-to-air missiles, and it could reach over 830 kilometres of combat
radius. After a study in 1985, it was seen that domestic
development of the aircraft is possible except for the engine.
Immediately after, the Japanese aircraft companies, Mitsubishi and Kawasaki, began to work on
their indigenous programmes. Mitsubishi had confidence.
It had already developed the T-2 CCV research aircraft and had a domestic fly-by-wire flight
control system. So, Mitsubishi began to work on the JF210.
Besides, Kawasaki designed an aircraft, which had a similar silhouette to the F/A-18 Hornet.
However, the JASDF was unsure as to the level of air-to-air combat capability of the next
support fighter. The specification constantly changed. This caused confusion and extra costs
for the design process. In the end, Japan decided that the research
and development costs of a domestic support fighter would be enormous. Direct procurement
from abroad was not possible because no available fighter at that time could answer the JASDF's
requirements. So, Japan decided that a joint development programme would be economically
more feasible. In 1986, the US General Dynamics and McDonnell
Douglas companies offered capacity-enhancing joint development based on the F-16 and the
F/A-18, respectively. The Europeans could only offer a capacity-enhancing
proposal based on the Tornado. Their levels of industrial cooperation and technology transfer
offers were not enough for the Japanese. So, in 1987, the Tornado was removed from the
list. But now, McDonnell Douglas also proposed a
new aircraft based on the F-15, which was already used by the JASDF.
After detailed examinations, Japan chose the F-16 as the base aircraft.
At that time, General Dynamics was already working on F-16 Agile Falcon as a low-cost
alternative for the Advanced Tactical Fighter programme. This enhanced F-16 variant, which
was not chosen by the US Air Force, was the most suitable solution as the base aircraft
for the next support fighter. The initial problems were left behind, but
new ones were just beginning. Since the early 1980s, the Reagan administration
had adopted a policy to increase the military capabilities of the Western Bloc. So, the
US Department of Defence was supporting the Japanese new combat aircraft programme, and
it was open to cooperation and mutual technology transfer.
But, the US Commerce Department had a problematic relation with Japan.
First of all, for a long time, the trade balance between the two countries had turned against
the USA. The Commerce Department preferred a policy
of forcing Japan to purchase US weapon systems directly.
Also, the technology transfer may turn the Japanese aviation companies into competitors
against the USA companies. Besides, Japan had a bad reputation for giving
critical industrial secrets to the USSR. Still, in 1988, the USA and Japan agreed to
the joint development programme. But, the debates on details continued for a year. In
1989, the US Congress approved the deal with some limitations. The USA would constrain
the provision of the F-16 source code, the work shares of the US companies would be maximized
at the production stage, and Japan would also provide some critical technology transfer
to the USA. Japan and the USA have shared the manufacturing
of the F-2 with a ratio of 60/40. The main contractor in Japan is Mitsubishi.
Many other Japanese companies, such as Kawasaki and Fuji, are subcontractors.
IHI produces the engine under license. The main US partner of the programme was General
Dynamics. This company sold its aircraft production facilities in Fort Worth to Lockheed Martin
in 1993. So, since then, Lockheed Martin has become the main US partner of the programme,
and it produced all the rear fuselages and wing leading-edge flaps and eight of the ten
left-hand wing boxes. Also, some other US companies, such as Honeywell,
are working as a subcontractor. The F-2 made its maiden flight on October
7, 1995. During the test flight, it was seen that some microscopic scale cracks occurred
in the main wing structure besides other minor problems, which caused delays.
After these problems were fixed, the F-2 was introduced to the JASDF's service in 2000.
Initially, Japan had planned to acquire 141 F-2s. But due to high unit costs, this number
was reduced to 94 later. The aircraft has similar lines to the F-16.
But, they have 95 per cent drawing changes in details.
The fuselage of the F-2 is 0.5 metres longer than the Block 40 variant F-16's. Because
its wings are 25 per cent bigger, the F-2 can carry more and heavier ordinance on its
underwing pylons. This feature also improves turning capability.
Mitsubishi redesigned the vertical stabilizer to improve flight performance and operate
anti-ship missiles. Also, the air intake was redesigned due to
the larger nose radome, which hosts locally developed radar.
The J/APG-1 makes the F-2 the first production combat aircraft with an active electronically
scanned array radar. This radar gives the aircraft both superb anti-ship, ground attack,
and interception capabilities. The wings, horizontal tail, fin, rudder, and
landing gear doors are made of carbon fibre reinforced composite material.
The rear fuselage and tail unit are titanium. The nose, wing leading edges and engine intakes
are made of Mitsubishi's Rayon radar-absorbent material to improve stealth.
Unlike the two-piece cockpit canopy of the F-16, the F-2 has a three-piece cockpit canopy,
which is more durable against birdstrikes. This feature makes the aircraft more suitable
for low altitude ground and maritime strike missions.
Different from the US Air Force F-16s, the F-2 has a break-chute.
Mitsubishi developed a domestic digital fly-by-wire flight control system as early as 1983 and
tested it on a modified T-2. But, the F-2 uses a different one, jointly
developed by Japan Aviation Electric and Honeywell. There is also a single analogue backup flight
control system on the aircraft for yaw and roll controls.
The B variant of the F-2 is used for conversion and advanced combat training. It is similar
to the A model, except that the onboard electronic equipment and fuel capacity have been reduced
to make room for the rear seat. In 2004, Lockheed Martin unveiled the F-2
Super Kai variant. But, the JASDF has not interested in this proposed model, which has
many improvements, such as conformal fuel tanks, Link 16 capabilities, and helmet-mounted
display. The F-2A has a length of 15.5 metres, a wingspan
of 11.1 metres, and a height of 5 metres. Its wing area is 34.84 square metres. The
aircraft's empty weight is about 9,830 kilograms, while its maximum takeoff weight is 22,100
kilograms. One 131 kiloNewton General Electric F110-IHI-129 after-burning turbofan engine
provides a top speed of Mach 1.73. It can climb an altitude of nearly 18,000 metres,
in other words, 59,000 feet. The aircraft can reach a range of 4,000 kilometres. The
F-2's combat radius is over 830 kilometres with four anti-ship missiles and two air-to-air
missiles. The aircraft has one 20mm six-barrel JM61A1 gun and thirteen hardpoints with a
capacity of 8 tons ordinance. The F-2 can carry the AAM-3, AAM-4, AAM-5, AIM-9 Sidewinder,
AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missiles, ASM-1, ASM-2 anti-ship missiles, as well as different
types of bombs and rocket pods. The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami damaged
18 F-2Bs in the region. Japan has returned 13 of them back into service. The rest was
damaged beyond repair. Although its main mission definition of the
F-2 is anti-ship attacks, that aircraft has hit the headlines with its interception scrambles.
Let's look at some major ones. On February 7, 2013, four Viper Zeros scrambled to intercept
two Russian Su-27s, which Japan claims violated the Japanese airspace. We should note that
Moscow claims that these Flankers were flying near the disputed Kuril Islands, not over
the Japanese airspace. A few months later, this time, the F-2s scrambled
to intercept two Tu-142s, which entered Japanese airspace near the major southern island of
Kyushu. On July 23, 2019, together with two Russian
Tu-95MS, two Chinese H-6Ks flew over the Japan Sea.
So, together with F-15Js, the F-2s scrambled to monitor and intercept them.
As we mentioned before, the JASDF defines the F-2 as a 4.5th generation fighter. Yes,
its capabilities are superior to a 4th generation one. But, the F-2 is missing some features
of the Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon. First of all, the Viper Zero does not have
the supercruise capability. The F-2 is a swing-role fighter. During the anti-ship or ground attack
mission, it can switch to the interception mission if necessary. But, the aircraft cannot
launch stand-off air-to-ground or anti-radiation missiles. So, its ground attack capability
is limited, and it cannot perform suppression of enemy air defences missions. Also, the
F-2 does not carry reconnaissance pods. So, it is far behind its European counterparts
in terms of operational flexibility. Besides, the F-2 does not have the capability
of Link 16, so its network-centred warfare capability is low. The Viper Zero's pilots
cannot use helmet-mounted display. However, now Japan is working on eliminating
these shortcomings. Soon, the F-2 will have Link 16 capability and helmet-mounted displays.
In 2015, some Viper Zeros were fitted with J/AAQ-2 forward-looking infrared and AN/AAQ-33
Sniper targeting pods. So, these aircraft are compatible with the
JDAM guided bombs. Due to the limitations of the Japanese constitution,
the F-2s cannot still carry stand-off air-to-ground missiles.
By abling to carry four anti-ship missiles at once, the F-2 is the fighter size combat
aircraft, which has the highest anti-surface warfare capability.
Soon, the Viper Zero will be equipped with advanced ASM-3A anti-ship missiles. This missile,
which has a maximum speed of Mach 5, a range of over 400 kilometres, and advanced sensors,
will undoubtedly make the F-2 one of the most dangerous ship hunter fighters.
Besides, the J/APG-1 of the aircraft is now upgrading to J/APG-2 standards, which would
give the F-2 to launch AAM-4B air-to-air missiles. On paper, the AAM-4B, which has a range of
120 kilometres and active electronically scanned array radar, will provide the aircraft with
better interception capabilities than the F/A-18E/F.
Perhaps in one of the other parallel universes, Japan decided to execute an indigenous programme,
and we would see this picture when we talk about the F-2.
But, this is not the case. Today, Japan is working on a new fighter to
replace the F-2. Maybe this time, we will see the next fully domestic Zero in the sky.
In 2015, the JASDF abandoned to use of the term support fighter. Since then, it has defined
the F-2 as a multi-role fighter. These aircraft are still the backbone of the anti-ship attack
capability of the JASDF. They have also proved themselves as valuable interceptors. By current
upgrading efforts, the Viper Zero will keep its combat capability and continue to protect
the Japanese national interest in the region. Thanks for watching our video. And please
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