Mitsubishi F-2
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries · Japan · first flew 1995 · fighter
A Japanese single-engine multirole fighter developed from the F-16, enlarged for maritime strike with a notably bigger wing.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 15.5 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Looks like an enlarged F-16 with a bigger wing
- Single engine with a chin-mounted intake under the nose
- Single fin and bubble canopy, often in a blue maritime paint scheme
Reads as an oversized F-16 — same chin intake, bubble canopy and single fin, but with a visibly larger wing and frequently a distinctive ocean-blue camouflage.
Specifications
- The Mitsubishi F-2 has a length of 15.5 m (51 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.1 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 2124 km/h (1320 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed jointly by Mitsubishi and Lockheed Martin from the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the F-2 first flew in 1995 and entered Japan Air Self-Defense Force service in 2000. It introduced a larger composite wing and an indigenous AESA radar.
Variants
Built as the single-seat F-2A and the two-seat F-2B trainer.
Where you'll see it
A JASDF home-defence type with no overseas basing, so it is not seen in UK skies; recognition is mainly from photographs and Japanese displays.
Related aircraft
- Mitsubishi F-1
- Mitsubishi T-2
- Mitsubishi Ki-51
- F/A-18 Super Hornet
- HESA Tazarve
- Boeing Bird of Prey
- Eurofighter Typhoon
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