Mitsubishi F-2

The **Mitsubishi F-2** is a multi-role single-engined fighter jet derived from the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, and manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Lockheed Martin, a United States tech company from Earth for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.

## Overview

The origins of the F-2A goes as far back as 1981, when Japan and its various military industrial contractors started considering the development of a domestically designed and produced multirole fighter. While the old Mitsubishi F-1 has proven to be a capable design, it is already starting to show its age.

On one hand, Japan is fairly confident in developing its own 4th generation fighter jet due to experiences in manufacturing the F-15J with license obtained form McDonnell-Douglas, and stressed the importance of developing their domestic aviation sector; America on the other hand is not as confident, and advocated for the co-development of a variant of the F-16 or the F/A-18 for Japan, as they believe that Japan will not accept an entirely American design. Eventually after much dispute, some pressuring from the Americans, and much criticism from both sides, the 2 nations agreed on co-development, General Dynamics agreed to supply the design of the F-16 to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and will handle up to 45% of the development process.

The F-2 started out in life as the F-16 Agile Falcon, which is an ill-fated attempt by General Dynamics to produce a low cost alternative to the Advanced Tactical Fighter program. It eventually became the basis for Japan’s new fighter, with most of its avionics upgraded to 1990s standards.

A multitude of corporations are sub-contracted for the project, including Kawasaki, Honeywell, NEC, Lockheed-Martin, Kokusai Electric, Raytheon, General Electric and Hazeltine. The flight control computer, fire control radar, inertial reference system, mission computer and electric warfare system are all domestically developed. The engine of the F-2 is the General Electric F-110-IHI-129 afterburning turbofan licensed produced by Kawasaki, which also worked on the mid section of the fuselage and the main landing gear doors. Mitsubishi built the forward fuselage and wings, Lockheed-Martin supplied the aft fuselage, some of the avionics, as well as most of the wingbox components, leading edge slats, and stores management system. Japan Aviation Electric and Honeywell co-developed the fly-by-wire system. The communication systems and IFF are developed by Raytheon, NEC, Kokusai and Hazeltine.

Despite resembling the F-16, around 95% of the design was changed for the F-2. The end result sports a 25% larger wing area which permitted greater payload capacity and higher maneuverability in proportion to the thrust. More composite materials such as graphite-epoxy are incorporated into the airframe in order to reduce weight, increase flight range as well as stealth capabilities. The nose of the F-2 is also longer and wider than the F-16’s, in order to incorporate the Mitsubishi J/APG-1 AESA radar, making the F-2 one of the first fighter in the world to incorporate AESA radar. The engine intakes and tailplanes are also made larger. It also incorporated a drogue-chute much like many of the export model F-16s.

During the transfer to the New World, Japan has used the F-2 as a fighter, a fighter bomber, ground support and primarily in anti-ship operations. Having a top speed of Mach 2.0, the F-2 can easily outrun and overtake any aerial opponent thus far in the New World. It has played a pivotal role in decimating enemy fleets and destroying land targets without a single loss.

## Specifications

### **General characteristics**

* **Crew:** 1 (**F-2B:** 2)
* **Length:** 15.52 m (50 ft 11 in)
* **Wingspan:**
	+ 11.125 m (36 ft 6 in) over missile launchers
	+ 10.8 m (35 ft) without missile launchers

* **Wing area:** 34.84 m2 (375.0 sq ft)
* **Aspect ratio:** 3.3
* **Empty weight:**
	+ **F-2A:** 9,527 kg (21,003 lb)
	+ **F-2B:** 9,633 kg (21,237 lb)

* **Gross weight:** 13,459 kg (29,672 lb) clean
* **Max takeoff weight:** 22,100 kg (48,722 lb)
* **Maximum landing weight:** 18,300 kg (40,300 lb)
* **Fuel capacity:**
	+ **F-2A**
		- 4,637 l (1,225 US gal; 1,020 imp gal) maximum internal fuel
		- 4,588 l (1,212 US gal; 1,009 imp gal) usable
	+ **F-2B**
		- 3,948 l (1,043 US gal; 868 imp gal) maximum internal fuel
		- 3,903 l (1,031 US gal; 859 imp gal) usable
	+ **External Fuel capacity**
		- 5,678 l (1,500 US gal; 1,249 imp gal) maximum - (1x 1,135.5 l (300.0 US gal; 249.8 imp gal) + 2x 2,271.25 l (600.00 US gal; 499.61 imp gal) drop-tanks)

* **Powerplant:** 1 × General Electric F110-IHI-129 afterburning turbofan, 76 kN (17,000 lbf) thrust dry, 131 kN (29,500 lbf) with afterburner

### **Performance**

* **Maximum speed:** 2,124 km/h (1,320 mph, 1,147 kn)
* **Maximum speed:** Mach 2 at high altitude, Mach 1.1 at low altitude
* **Combat range:** 833 km (518 mi, 450 nmi) +
* **Service ceiling:** 18,000 m (59,000 ft)
* **Wing loading:** 634.3 kg/m2 (129.9 lb/sq ft) maximum
* **Thrust/weight:** 0.606

### **Armament**

* 1x 20 mm M61A1 cannon, plus maximum weapon load of 8,085 kg:
* Rocket pod JLAU-3/A
* AAMs: Mitsubishi AAM-3, Mitsubishi AAM-4, Mitsubishi AAM-5, AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-7 Sparrow
* air-to-ground weapons include: ASM-1 and ASM-2 anti-ship missiles, various free-fall bombs with GCS-1 IIR seeker heads, JDAM
* others: J/AAQ-2 FLIR, AN/AAQ-33

## Service History

### Pre-Transference

Due to the relative peace of 2010s Earth and Article 9 of the Japanese constitution preventing Japan from using war as a mean to settle international disputes, the F-2 saw very little action, during 2013 several F-2A are dispatched to intercept Russian Su-27s and a Tu-142 intruding Japanese air space.

### Rodenius War

The F-2s were first used in combat against the Louria Kingdom, where they followed the F-15J Kai fighters in their assault against the capital. After all the wyvern forces were obliterated, the F-2s bombed key positions and cleared the way for the ground forces to attack their main objectives. The end result was the fall of the Louria Kingdom.

### Japanese-Parpaldian War

The F-2s played a larger role in the war against the Parpaldia Empire, by systematically eliminating their Dragon Carrier force at their own base and destroying their military base at Le Brias.

During the Duro Air Strike, F-2s were served as escorts for the BP-3C medium-range bombers that were tasked to destroy the industrial facilities at the city of Duro. However, one JASDF bomber was hit by a 1st-gen Magic Anti-Aircraft Cannon (which is smuggled from the Holy Milishial Empire for research). The aircraft was not downed but obliged not to join the said operation. One F-2 escort swoop immediately and bombed the enemy position.

### New World War

During the conflict, the F-2s would again take the role of fighter-bomber and anti-ship aircraft against the Gra Valkas Empire and its attempts to conquer the world. During the Battle of Alue, on a recon mission, an F-2 saw an Antares fighter chasing some Mu nobles. The F-2 pilot engaged the Antares in a dogfight and destroyed the WW2-level fighter. The pilot was reprimanded for not using its AAM-3 air-to-air missile and revealing the Japanese fighters' capabilities to the GVE, although the commanders on the enemy side remained ignorant.

During the Raid of Valkyries Base and the Capture of Valkyries Base, F-2s were responsible for bombing Gra Valkas defenses on the ground. Their ability to accurately target radar facilities, anti-air positions, and buildings struck fear into the enemy.

The airframe had its most important role yet during the Great Naval Invasion of Japan, where they were deployed in three engagements against the massive number of Gra Valkas warships approaching Japan, sinking hundreds without taking a single loss.

The F-2 once again proved its lethality during the recently concluded Liberation of Hinomawari Kingdom and Liberation of Leifor.

The F-2 is planned to be deployed in the newly-constructed JSDF base in Silkark Kingdom, along with several aircraft for the still ongoing Conflict at Silkark Kingdom.