Diecast Aircraft Information

MetalWings Diecast Aircraft Reference by Dauntless Aviation

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA2701
Mitsubishi F-2A (nickname - Viper Zero)
JASDF 3rd SQ, 3rd AW, Misawa AB

Die-cast metal.
Superb detailing in 1/72 scale.
Pre-painted with pad applied markings.
Fully assembled.
Weapons that are not permanently attached.
Comes with crew figures
Display stand included.
Option to display model with wheels up or down.
Minimum use of plastic.

Specifications Mitsubishi F-2A
Nickname - Viper Zero
Designation - Single-seat Multi-role fighter
Crew - 1 (or 2 for the F-2B)
Performance
Powerplant: (1) General Electric F110-GE-129 turbofan
Dry thrust - 76 kN (17,000 lbf)
Thrust with afterburner - 131 kN (29,500 lbf)
Maximum speed - Mach 2.0
Range - 520 miles   (834 km) on anti-ship mission
Service ceiling - 59,000 ft   (18,000 m)
Dimensions
Length - 50 ft 11 in   (15.52 m)
Wingspan - 36 ft 6 in   (11.13 m)
Height - 15 ft 5 in   (4.69 m)
Wing area - 375 ft²   (34.84 m²)
Weights
Empty - 21,000 lb   (9,527 kg)
Loaded - 33,000 lb   (15,000 kg)
Max takeoff - 48,700 lb   (22,100 kg)
Armament
(1) 20 mm JM61A1 cannon
Capable of carrying up to 17,820 lb   (8,085 kg) weapon load on 11 hard points. They
are located - #1 and #11 at the wing tips, #2-5 and #7-10 under the wings, and #6 under
the fuselage.
Possible Weapons
Air-to-air - AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-7 Sparrow, Mitsubishi AAM-3, Mitsubishi AAM-4
Air-to-ground - ASM-1 and ASM-2 anti-ship missiles.
Various free-fall bombs with GCS-1 IIR seeker heads, Mk 82 and JM177 bombs,
CBU-87, JDAM and JLAU-3/A or RL-4 rocket pods.
Others - J/AAQ-2 FLIR
Avionics
Mitsubishi Active Electronically Scanned Array radar system including J/APG-1.
Some differences between the F-2A and the F-16
F-2A has a 25% larger wing area.
F-2A is manufactured using composite materials to reduce overall weight and radar
signature.
F-2A is longer and wider nose to accommodate phased-array radar.
F-2A has a larger tail-plane.
F-2A has a larger air intake.
F-2A has a three-piece cockpit canopy.

F-2A is equipped with a drogue parachute.

During the 1980s General Dynamics, the developer of the F-16, proposed another
version of the F-16 called the F-16 Agile Falcon. The US military opted not to get involved
because they were busy upgrading their present fleet as well as developing the new
F-22/JSF. Japan had decided to purchase the F-16 to replace its aging F-1 aircraft but
then decided to develop the F-16 Agile Falcon concept. The new aircraft for the JASDF
(Japan Air Self Defense Force) would be the F-2 and manufactured with a 60/40 split
between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin bought
General Dynamics in 1993. Production started in 1996 with the first aircraft being
delivered in 2000. 94 of the F-2 aircraft are scheduled to be manufactured. It might look
like an F-16 but the Mitsubishi F-2 is a completely new fighter. The general shape may
say F-16 and a few things that the F-2 and the F-16 have common are the engine,
landing gear, air intake door and the 20 mm gun. But the F-2 has a longer and wider nose
to accommodate phased-array radar with 25% larger wing. It is made from a composite
material to reduce weight and radar signature, a larger tail plane and larger air intake.
The pilot canopy is a stronger three-piece construction. The F-2 is equipped with a
drogue chute just like the NATO version of the F-16. The single seat fighter is the F-2A
while the two seat version is a trainer that is fully combat capable. As part of the Northern
Air Defense Force the 3rd AW is located at Misawa Air Base. The AW is comprised of the
3rd and 8th Squadrons. The 3rd Squadron was the first to receive the F-2 in 2001.

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