MITSUBISHI F-1

Mitsubishi F-1

Role: multi-role light fighter, maritime attack
Builder: Mitsubishi
Variants: F-1
Operators: Japan 

Mitsubishi F-1 is a single-seat attack aircraft with secondary air-to-air capability. The F-1 is a deritive from the T-2 trainer which is based on the SEPECAT Jaguar design. The space where the rear cockpit used to be in the T-2 design is used for additional avionics and fuel in the F-1 design. Its primary task in the Japanese Self Defense Force is anti-shipping with the 50km range ASM-1 anti-ship missile as its primary weapon. It is equipped with the J/AWG-12 radar which has two operating modes, air-to-air and air-to-surface, and is compatible with the ASM-1 missile. It has an air-to-air capability using the AIM-9 IR seeking missile, but because of its short range this capability is only limited.

History

 

The Mitsubishi T-2 supersonic two-seat advanced trainer was developed in the late 1960s, early 1970s to help the pilots' transition from the F-104J to the F-4EJ. The prototype for the T-2 (XT-2) was first flown on 20 July 1971. The succes of the T-2 design led to the development of a single-seat attack derivative with a counter-air capability. Two T-2s were converted to a single-seat fighter variant and redesignated FST-2. The first flight of this prototype took place on 3 June 1975. 

In April 1978 the first F-1 entered JASDF (Japanese Self Defense Force) service. A total of 77 aircraft were built. During the period 1990-1993 the aircraft were upgraded. The F-1 is now scheduled to be replaced by the F-2, which is the Japanese version of the
F-16 Fighting Falcon. 

The F-1 was the first combat turbojet powered aircraft developed by Japan since World War II. 

Specification Mitsubishi F-1

Powerplant: two 32.49 kN (7,305 lb st) Ishikawajima-Harisma TF40-IHI-801 (license built Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca Adour Mk 801A) afterburning turbofans 

Dimensions: length 17.86m (58 ft 7 in); height 4.39m (14 ft 5 in); wing span 7.88m (25 ft 10¼ in)

Weights: empty, equipped 6358 kg (14,017 lb); Max Take-Off Weight 13.700 kg (30,203 lb)

Performance: max level speed 'clean' at 10.975m (36,000 ft) Mach 1.6 or 1700 km/h (1056 mph); service ceiling 15240m (50,000 ft)

Armament: one JM61 Vulcan 20mm multi-barrel cannon with 750 rounds; up tp 2721 kg (6,000 lb) of ordnance, including ASM-1 anti-ship missiles, free fall bombs, JLAU-3A 70mm rockets, RL-7 70mm rockets, RL-4 125mm rockets, AIM-9L AAMs, and/or two auxiliary fuel tanks carried on five external hardpoints.