Kawasaki Ki-102 "Randy"
Kawasaki Heavy Industries · Japan · first flew 1944 · fighter
The Kawasaki Ki-102 was a Japanese twin-engine aircraft developed in the final years of World War II in both a ground-attack (Ki-102b) and high-altitude interceptor (Ki-102a) configuration. It represented a capable late-war design that saw only limited production before Japan's surrender.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Slim fuselage with two radial engines mounted ahead of mid-wings |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Late WWII Japanese twin-engine ground attack and interceptor aircraft
- Slim fuselage with two radial engines mounted ahead of mid-wings
- Heavy nose armament including a 57mm cannon on the ground-attack variant
Twin-engine mid-wing monoplane with a slim fuselage, two large radial engines, a glazed rear gunner's position, and conventional undercarriage.
Specifications
- The Kawasaki Ki-102 has a length of 11.45 m (38 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15.57 m (51 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 580 km/h (360 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Design work began in 1943 building on experience with the Ki-45 Toryu. The Ki-102b ground-attack variant first flew in March 1944 armed with a 57mm Ho-401 cannon and two 20mm guns. The Ki-102a high-altitude interceptor was intended to combat B-29 raids but few were completed. Total production reached around 238 aircraft of which 215 were Ki-102b variants.
Variants
The Ki-102b was the primary ground-attack variant with a 57mm cannon; the Ki-102a was an interceptor with two 30mm cannon and revised turbocharging; a proposed Ki-102c torpedo variant was not built.
Where you'll see it
Production aircraft were assigned to home defence units in Japan; few if any saw combat before the war ended, as most were held for the anticipated Allied invasion.
Related aircraft
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