| F-2 | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Mitsubishi F-2B | |
| General information | |
| Type | Multirole fighter |
| National origin | Japan / United States |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries / Lockheed Martin |
| Status | In service |
| Primary user | Japan Air Self-Defense Force |
| Number built | 98 (including 4 prototypes)[1] |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1995–2011 |
| Introduction date | 2000 |
| First flight | 7 October 1995 |
| 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]
- ^ 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.