Mitsubishi F-2

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 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.

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]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ John Pike. "F-2 Support Fighter / FSX". Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  3. ^ 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.