Mitsubishi F-1

In the mid 1960s, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) commenced studies into an advanced jet trainer which could also be modified to serve in the ground attack and anti-shipping roles. After considering license production of the T-38 Talon and SEPECAT Jaguar, Japan decided to develop its own trainer, the supersonic Mitsubishi T-2, this first flying on 20 July 1971. Cost over-runs in the T-2 program led to the proposed single seat attack version almost being abandoned, but the cancellation of the Kawasaki P-XL, the planned replacement for Japan's Kawasaki P-2J maritime patrol aircraft freed-up funds, while making it important to keep Japan's aviation industry employed, and contracts were awarded for the development of the attack version as the FS-T2kai in 1973.[1][2]

The new aircraft was a minimum change derivative of the T-2, with the rear cockpit being converted to an avionics bay by removing the rear seat, and replacing the canopy with a simple unglazed access hatch.[3] Two additional hardpoints were fitted under the wing to allow carriage of a heavier weapon load, and the avionics were improved,[4] with a new J/AWG-12 radar set, similar to that fitted in British Royal Air Force F-4M Phantom fighter jets.[5] This set provides ranging information. Aside from the avionics changes, deletion of the rear seat, and new one-piece canopy, the only other major change from the T-2 was the strengthening of the airframe to enable it to carry a larger weapons load than the T-2. The F-1 is fitted with an internally mounted 20 mm JM61A1 Vulcan cannon with 750 rounds of ammunition. The aircraft also has seven external hardpoints for the carriage of a wide variety of stores. The fuselage hardpoint and inboard pair of underwing hardpoints are plumbed for external fuel tanks to increase the aircraft's range. The primary weapon of the F-1 is the ASM-1 and the newer ASM-2 long-range anti-ship missile. This weapon is roughly in the class of the American AGM-84 Harpoon or French AM.39 Exocet. Other weapons carried include the all-aspect short-range heat-seeking AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile for air-to-air combat. This weapon is carried on the wingtip rails usually, but it can also be carried on the outboard underwing hardpoints for the F-1's secondary air defense role. Other air-to-ground weapons carried include rocket pods (JLAU-3/A) of 70 mm (2.75 in) size as well as bombs of 227 kg (500 lb) and 340 kg (750 lb) in size (Mk82 and M117 respectively). In addition, the Mk-82 and M117 bombs can be fitted with infrared guidance kits, turning them into precision-guided weapons that home in on heat radiation emitted from seaborne targets such as ships or other ground-based targets. When fitted with this kit, the bomb becomes known as GCS-1.

The F-1 was replaced by the F-2 (Japan/U.S. developed, based on the F-16C/D), as well as upgraded F-4EJ Kai Phantom IIs. The last six active F-1s, based at Tsuiki in Fukuoka Prefecture, were retired on 9 March 2006, having reached the 4,000 hour limit of their airframes.

• FS-T2-Kai: The first two prototypes.
• Mitsubishi F-1: Single-seat close air support, ground-attack and anti-ship fighter aircraft.

• : Japan Air Self-Defense Force

Mitsubishi F-1 on display at Fuchū Air Base, Tokyo

• 60-8275 F-1 Fuchū Air Base, in Fuchu, Tokyo[6]
• 70-8207 F-1 Mitsu Seiki Co., Ltd. Taga Works, Awaji, Hyōgo[6]
• F-1 JASDF Kamo sub-base, Oga, Akita Prefecture[6]
• F-1 (nose section) Misawa Air Base, Misawa, Aomori Prefecture[6]
• F-1 Misawa Aviation & Science Museum, Misawa, Aomori Prefecture[6]
• F-1 (fire training) Ashiya Air Field, Ashiya, Fukuoka Prefecture[6]
• F-1 Kasuga Air Base, Kasuga, Fukuoka Prefecture[6]
• F-1 Tsuiki Air Field, Tsuiki, Fukuoka Prefecture[6]
• F-1 JASDF Erimo sub-base, Erimo, Hokkaido Prefecture[6]
• F-1 Hyakuri Airport, Omitama, Ibaraki Prefecture[6]
• F-1 National Defense Academy of Japan, Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture[6]
• F-1 JASDF Sado sub-base, Sado, Niigata Prefecture[6]
• F-1 Iruma Air Base, Sayama, Saitama Prefecture[6]
• F-1 Ōtsu JGSDF base, Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture[6]
• F-1 (Nose section) Fujisan Juku no Mori Park, Airfield cafe, Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture[6]
• F-1 Harada collection Oyama, Shizuoka Prefecture[6]
• F-1 U.S.-Japan Joint Air Defense Command HQ, Yokota Air Base, Fussa, Tokyo[6]
• F-1 Hōfu Kita Air Base, Hōfu, Yamaguchi Prefecture[6]

Data from Mitsubishi's Sabre Successor[7]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 17.86 m (58 ft 7 in)
• Wingspan: 7.88 m (25 ft 10 in)
• Height: 4.48 m (14 ft 8 in)
• Wing area: 21.2 m² (228 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 6,358 kg (14,017 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 13,674 kg (30,146 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Ishikawa-Harima TF40-801A afterburning turbofan engines, 22.8 kN (5,100 lbf) thrust each dry, 35.6 kN (8,000 lbf) with afterburner

Performance

• Maximum speed: 1,700 km/h (1,100 mph, 920 kn) at 11,000 m (36,089 ft) (clean)
• Combat range: 556 km (345 mi, 300 nmi) High-Low-High profile with two ASM-1 missiles and one 830 l (220 US gal; 180 imp gal) drop tank
• Ferry range: 2,870 km (1,780 mi, 1,550 nmi) (max external fuel)
• Service ceiling: 15,240 m (50,000 ft) [8]
• Time to altitude: 11,000 m (36,089 ft) in 2.0 minutes
• Wing loading: 645 kg/m² (132 lb/sq ft)

Armament

• Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) JM61A1 Vulcan 6-barreled Gatling cannon
• Hardpoints: One centerline, four underwing and two wingtip missile rails
• Bombs: Various bombs, air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles and rocket pods on four underwing, two wingtip, and one underfuselage pylon. Weapons carried include AIM-9 Sidewinder, Mitsubishi AAM-1, Mitsubishi Type 80 Air-to-Ship Missile/Type 93 Air-to-Ship Missile anti-ship missiles, JLAU-3A 70 mm rocket pods, RL-7 70 mm rockets, RL-4 125 mm rockets, Mk-82 500 lb and M117 750 lb bombs, and GCS-1, IR-guided versions of the Mk-82 and M117.

Related development

• Mitsubishi T-2

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• F-105 Thunderchief
• IAR-93
• SEPECAT Jaguar
• Soko J-22 Orao
• Xian JH-7

Notes

Bibliography

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mitsubishi F-1.

• F-1 at Globalsecurity.org
• F-1 at Tower Hobbies
• F-1 at MilitaryFactory.com