Yokosuka MXY9 Shuka
Yokosuka (IJNAS) · Japan · first flew 1945 · fighter
The Yokosuka MXY9 Shuka was Imperial Japan's first domestically designed and flown jet-powered fighter, reaching the prototype stage in the final months of World War II.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Short, stubby fuselage with straight mid-wing |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
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Spot it by:
- Japan's first indigenous jet fighter prototype
- Single Ne-20 axial turbojet
- Short, stubby fuselage with straight mid-wing
Compact straight-wing monoplane; single jet inlet under nose; short fuselage; conventional tail; tricycle undercarriage distinguishes it from piston fighters.
Specifications
- The Yokosuka MXY9 Shuka has a length of 6.96 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10 m (33 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 696 km/h (432 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed from 1944 as Japan urgently sought jet technology to counter Allied air superiority, the MXY9 used the Ne-20 axial turbojet developed for the Ohka Model 22. The prototype flew in mid-1945 but performance was insufficient and the war ended before any follow-on development.
Variants
Single prototype only; no production variants.
Where you'll see it
Never entered operational service; programme cancelled at Japan's surrender.
Related aircraft
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