F-2A Viper Zero
Japanese F-16 derivative with a bigger composite wing and the first active array radar to fly on a fighter.
- Composite wing
- 25 percent larger wing
- First AESA fighter radar
- Anti-ship role
מפרט
- מדינת מקור
- Japan
- יצרן
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
- תפקיד
- Multirole
- דור
- 4
- נכנס לשירות
- 2000
- סוג לחימה
- אוויר
- קוד הזמנה
- f2a
בשרת
The F-2 entered Japanese service in 2000 and is a joint Mitsubishi and Lockheed Martin development of the F-16. It is not a licence copy: the wing is about twenty five percent larger and made largely of co-cured composite, the nose is longer, the tail is bigger, and the airframe was built around a maritime strike requirement, carrying four anti-ship missiles. It was also the first fighter in the world to fly with an active electronically scanned array radar. The nickname Viper Zero comes from the F-16 nickname and the wartime Mitsubishi fighter. On MCS the F-2A turns better than an F-16 thanks to that wing and carries more, at the cost of some acceleration. It is at its best over water and against ground or naval targets. Recommended for pilots who like the Falcon but want more wing and more payload.