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F-1 supersonic support fighterThe F-1 is the first supersonic support fighter developed in Japan after the WWII, based on the advanced supersonic trainer T-2. And the T-2 is developed from JAGUAR in 1971. Mitsubishi is the primary contractor of both aircrafts. T-2 has a Mitsubishi Eletonics J/AWG-11 search/range detection radar in the head, Mitsubishi Eletonics HUD based on Thomson-CSF design, Mitsubishi Eletonics J/ARC-51 radio, NEC J/ARN-53 TAKAN, J/APX-101 IFF & Lipton 5010BL navigation consultation system.
T-2 is used for training in JASDF(Japanese Air Self Defence Force), first flight in 20th Jul, 1971. T-2`s powerplant are two Ishikawajima-Harima TF40-IHI-801A augmented turbofan engines, based on Rolls Roys/Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca Adour Mk801 A. The thrust is 22.7KN and maxiume 32.5KN. Both pilots have ES-7J zero-zero eject seats. The Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour is a two-shaft turbofan aircraft engine developed by Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Limited, a joint subsidiary of Rolls-Royce (UK) and Turbomeca (France). The engine is named for the Adour, a river in south western France.[1]
The weapons of T-2 contain: one 20mm JM61 Vulcan six-barrel cannon with 750 rounds. There are five external hardpoints and two wing tip stations. T-2 can carry 2722 kg (6,000 lb) of disposable stores, including AAMs, ASMs, free-fall or guided bombs, rocket-launcher pods, drop tanks and ECM pods.
Type 80 Air-to-Ship Missile (80???????, ASM-1) is an Air-to-ship missile developed in Japan.
The missile is primarily intended as an air launched coastal defence weapon. In fact it is somewhat more capable than this, able to engage both sea and land targets such as buildings and bridges. The Type 80 also serves as the basis of several other weapons; it forms part of the ground launched SSM-1 system and was also developed into the Type 88 SSM(Surface-to-Ship Missile), the Type 90 SSM (Ship-to-Ship Missile), and the 91 and 93 ASMs (Air-to-Ship Missile).
The F-1 is a tactical support fighter version of the T-2. Facing the USSR fleets in Pacific, the F-1 is mainly design for carrying anti-ship missiles, such as AMS-1 & ASM-2, to destroy the USSR warships, as well as other combat missions. The original model's first flight was in 1975. Starting in 1976, a total of 77 units have been delivered and manufactured. The main difference between F-1 & T-2 is that F-1 only has one pilot. Now the F-1 fighters are deployed at Misawa Air Base. Since 1978, Mitsubishi had produced 77 F-1s for JASDF. The weapon system of F-1 is simliar to the T-2. The typical misson for F-1 is to carry two ASM-1 anti-ship missiles & one 830kg fuel tank, proceeding HI-LO-LO-HI anti-ship mission, radius 550km. If use LO-LO section, the radius is down to 370km. In all the missions, two AIM-9 missile are carried.
ASM-1
In Apr 1986, JASDF announced to increase the service life of F-1 from 3500hr to 4500hr, for 3 more service years. And a auto-piloting system would be added, as well as the AIM-9L missile. The windshield is modified to withstand the midium size bird strike in 926km/hr speed.
The F-1 has slowly been replaced over the years by the newer F-2 (Japan/U.S. developed, based on F-16C/D), as well as upgraded F-4EJ "Kai" Phantom IIs. Units currently using the F-1 are scheduled to change over to the new F-2 over the next several years. One unit has already traded in its F-1s for F-4EJ Kais. Six F-1s based at Tsuiki in Fukuoka Prefecture were retired on 9 March 2006, having reached the 4,000 hour limit of their airframes. The T-2 CCV testing plane.
Length 58 feet, 7 inches (17.85 meters)
Empty weight 6360 kilograms |
A total of 96
T-2 units, including the test models, have been manufactured until
the end of production in 1988. Five of the T-2s is in the "TOP-GUN"
units of JASDF, and some in the Blue Impulse Air Stunt Team. The T-2
is in fact not only a trainer, but also a powerful air-to-surface
striker. The disadvantage of it is the avionics is limited for combat
missions. Now T-2s are deployed in 4nd Wing / 21st Squadron ,Matsushima
AB 4nd Wing / 22st Squadron ,Matsushima AB.
