The first 76 aircraft entered service by 2008, with a total of 98 airframes produced. The firstactive 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 nicknamedViper Zero, a reference to the F-16's unofficial nickname of "Viper" and theMitsubishi A6M Zero.[3]
The JASDF and its contractors considered developing a Japanese-designed, Japanese-produced replacement for the agingMitsubishi 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 theF-15J fighter under license fromMcDonnell 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 theU.S.–Japan defense relationship.Pentagon officials advocated co-production or co-development of an aircraft based on the F-16 orF/A-18 platform, as they believed that Japan would not agree to buy U.S. aircraft.[4]
In early 1987, the U.S., throughCaspar 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: theToshiba-Kongsberg scandal, in whichToshiba was found to have sold propeller milling machinery to the Soviet Union in violation ofCOCOM sanctions, became public in May 1987. Japan's negotiating stance changed amid the risk of deterioration in U.S.–Japan relations.[4]
On the American side, senior officials in theU.S. State Department andDefense 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 theCommerce Department and many members ofCongress 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 theSenate demanded official review of the deal.[9]
AfterGeorge H. W. Bush took office as U.S. president 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. TheBush 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 counterpartNoboru 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 lawmakerShintaro Ishihara was a vocal critic of the final deal, writing in 1990 that "ourForeign 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]
Work started in theFS-X program, initially given the company designationMitsubishi SX-3.[12] In 1984General Dynamics had offered an enlarged version of theF-16 to the US Air Force and considered entering it as a low cost alternative in theAdvanced Tactical Fighter competition. Neither came to fruition, however this concept became the starting point for F-2 development. The F-2 has an enlarged wing design, similar to that of theAgile Falcon, but much of the electronics was further updated to 1990s standards. Japan selected the fighter to replace theF-4EJ and supplement theF-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-handwingboxes.[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 toUS$10 million(€7.5 million), 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 theJapan Defense Agency atGifu 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]
General Electric,Kawasaki,Honeywell,Raytheon,NEC,Hazeltine, andKokusai Electric were among the primary component sub-contractors. Lockheed Martin supplied the aftfuselage,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 andIFF 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 inNagoya.
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 fromYokogawa.
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]
When compared to the F-16 Block 40, the F-2 differs in the following aspects:
An increase in wingspan and root chord, with 25 percent more wing area. The wings also feature a tapered trailing edge.[26]
On 7 February 2013, twoRussian Air ForceSukhoi Su-27 fighters briefly entered Japanese airspace offRishiri Island nearHokkaido, flying south over theSea of Japan before turning back to the north.[32] Four F-2 fighters were scrambled to visually confirm the Russian planes,[33] warning them by radio to leave their airspace.[34]
A photo taken by a JASDF pilot of one of the two Su-27s was released by the JapanMinistry of Defense.[35] Russia denied the incursion, saying the jets were making routine flights near thedisputedKuril Islands.[32]
On 22 August 2013, two RussianTupolev 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.[36]
F-2 Super Kai: Proposed version with the capability to carryCFTs (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 theF-35A Lightning II was chosen.[citation needed]
On 31 October 2007, an F-2B crashed during takeoff and subsequently caught fire atNagoya 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 JASDF. Both test pilots survived the incident with only minor injuries.[41] It was eventually determined that improper wiring caused the crash.[42][43]
As a result of the2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, 18 F-2Bs belonging to the21st Fighter Squadron atMatsushima Air Base were damaged or destroyed.[40][44] Of these 18, 5 were deemed beyond repair and have been scrapped. The remaining 13 F-2s were repaired at the estimated cost of¥80 billion (2011)[45] (equivalent to¥91.8 billion or US$606.45 million in 2024)[46]. 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.[47]
On 20 February 2019, an F-2B crashed during a training flight over theSea of Japan. Both the flight instructor and pilot survived the accident.[48]
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.[49]
On 7 August 2025, an F-2A stationed atHyakuri Air Base crashed into the Pacific offIbaraki Prefecture during a training flight. The pilot ejected and survived.[50]
Mitsubishi F-2AMitsubishi AAM-4 air-to-air missileASM-2 air-to-surface missileA JASDF F-2 loaded with AIM-7 Sparrow AAMs and AAM-3 SRAAMs.JASDF F-2 carriesXASM-3 at Gifu air base May 2017.
Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 2010–11,[51] Combat Aircraft since 1945[52]
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
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)
Hardpoints: 2 × wing-tip air-to-air missile launch rails, 8 × under-wing, and 1 × under-fuselage pylon(s) with a capacity of 8,085 kg (17,824 lb) of ordnance
There are umbilicals and attachment points for ASMs on the inner most pylon, potentially bringing the total up to 6 for each of the ASMs, however this loadout is not used in service.
^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.ISBN978-4890633791.
^abcdJackson, Paul (26 May 2011).Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2011-2012 (102nd ed.). Surrey: Jane's Information Group. pp. 407, 408, 802.ISBN9780710629555.
^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. RetrievedSeptember 10, 2020.
^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. RetrievedSeptember 10, 2020.
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