Superb Anti-Ship Capabilities
While the F-2 was based on the F-16, the former is much larger in size, though weight increase is alleviated by the use of carbon fiber materials, contributing to its high maneuverability.
On the avionics side, cutting-edge technology including the Mitsubishi developed AESA radar enabled the F-2 to join the league of advanced fighter jets.
Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the F-2 is its enhanced anti-ship capability. Given Japan’s geographical nature, any direct invasion would arrive from the sea, making the destruction of the enemy fleet the highest priority.
To achieve this critical task, the F-2 was designed to carry a maximum of four heavy anti-ship missiles, a rare feature in comparison to other fighters worldwide. As an extreme case, a squadron of F-2s each equipped with four anti-ship missiles can be expected to obliterate the enemy surface fleet, significantly deterring any attempts of invasion.
a F-2 fighter’s payload (photo credit: JASDF)
Moreover, with excellent payload and maneuverability, the F-2 is versatile enough for air-to-air combat as well, resulting in daily scramble missions alongside the F-15J fighters.
Hence, whereas the F-2 was once considered as a “support fighter” due to its emphasis on anti-ship missions, it has been relabeled as a “fighter jet” just like its F-15 and F-35 colleagues.
Unlike the F-15 and the new F-35, the F-2 could utilize the advantage of being a quasi-domestic fighter to undergo modification and software updates without US approval.
Such flexibility proved valuable for Japan, and around 90 units are still operating as part of JASDF’s indispensable workforce, with the majority experiencing modernization programs that enhanced air combat capabilities and enabled the accommodation of JDAM guided bombs.
Still, these upgrades certainly have their limits in a technologically volatile environment, and with overall lifespan approaching, the F-2 fighter is scheduled to begin retirement as early as 2035, handing its role over to the to-be-developed F-3 fighter (a joint project by Japan, UK, and Italy).
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