#viperzero

日本語版はこちら↓

F-2 is a multirole fighter derived from F-16.

mainly visible differences…

・Size

・Wing design

・Shape of the mouth(air intake)

One Thing about Japan’s F-2 Viper Zero Multi-Role Aircraft is that it has pretty nice Weapons, I already discussed in a previous Post about its AAM-4 Medium Range Air to Air Missile which is one of the few Missiles in the World in Service right now equipped with a stealthy Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar which is similar to what the Chinese PL-15 Missile is using.

Another nice Weapon that the F-2 has is the new ASM-3A Supersonic Anti-Ship Missile which is set to go into Service at the end of this Year of 2025, and its main Platform will be of course, the F-2. The ASM-3A will be one of the few Supersonic Cruise Missiles that are being produced in the West and its Allies.

It has a speed of Mach 3, and has a range of between 300 to 400 km. This is very similar to the BrahMos-Next Generation (NG) Missile that India was heavily promoting to the Philippines, except that the ASM-3A is much further along in Terms of its Development than the BrahMos-NG.

The ASM-3A is about to enter Service while the BrahMos-NG is just starting its Flight Testing and will likely enter Service in about a Year or so. The BrahMos-NG has a slightly longer Range than the ASM-3A as it can fly up to 450 km, but is a little bit slower at Mach 2.8. The ASM-3A though is lighter at 950 kg versus the 1,500 kg weight of the BrahMos-NG.

The ASM-3A’s fast speed in Theory means it will have a better chance of beating Enemy Air Defenses, giving them less time to react to it. Its Primary Mission is for use against Ships, but it can also be used to hit Land Targets.

Now whether we get the Viper Zero or not, I think we should also consider very much these excellent Japanese Weapons. Trust the Japanese to develop on their own also great Weapons ahead of its Allies in the West, the US or Europe up to now still does not have an Anti-Air Missile with AESA Radar or Supersonic Anti-Ship Missile like Japan does have now.

SOURCES:

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ Delivery of ASM-3A Missiles to Japan Air Self-Defense Force in 2025: Enhancing Maritime Strike Capabilities {Archived Link}

No less than the Chief of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), Lieutenant General Arthur Cordura himself told the Press recently that they are also considering the F-2 Viper Zero Fighter Aircraft that is made by Japan.

Quoting from him directly, "Mitsubishi Fighters (referring to the F-2), the Japanese made Multi-Role (Fighters) are very potential Platforms also".

MY THOUGHTS: The F-2 Viper Zero is based on the F-16C Fighting Falcon Aircraft, but is made by Japan. Specifically, it was based on the proposed “Agile Falcon” Version of the F-16C which Japan then developed further and incorporated much of their own Equipment into.

An interesting Trivia is that it is reportedly unofficially nicknamed the “Viper Zero” because the “Viper” stands for the unofficial nickname of the F-16, and the “Zero” is for the legendary A6M Zero Aircraft that Japan made and used during World War Two (WW2).

The Production of the F-2 stopped around 2011 though, so the PAF might be considering getting secondhand Aircraft from the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF). However, the Manufacturer of the Aircraft, “Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI)” might be considering opening up their Production Line again also to produce brand new Aircraft, especially now that Japan is slowly expanding their List of Military Equipment that they will allow for Export.

Note that Lockheed Martin (LM) itself, the American Manufacturer of the F-16, is featuring the F-2 on their Website, so perhaps it is another Sign that they are willing to restart its Production Line in Japan. If so, MHI might revive the F-2 under its newer Version, the “Super Kai” which they showed in various Defense Exhibitions before.

The Super Kai is based on the F-16C Block 60 Version and will have Conformal Fuel Tanks (CFT), aside from other Improvements over the Viper Zero Version. But one Concern for me is that Japanese Equipment tend to be on the expensive Side due to their high Standard of living, so that might be an Issue.

However, if they are willing to give us some good Deals so we can afford the Aircraft better, then why not. Another Point about the F-2 is that it will have the same Problems also as the F-16C when used for “Dispersed Operations” as that Philosophy is not as deeply embedded into its Design.

The Thing to watch for me with the F-2 though is its AAM-4 Missile, which is one of the few Air to Air Missiles in the World right now that uses an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar. Putting an AESA Radar in a Missile gives it the Advantage of Stealth, as Radar Warning Receivers (RWR) will not be able to detect its Signal until it is too late, when it is already on its Way to hitting the Aircraft.

Another Missile with a similar AESA Radar is China’s PL-15 Missile which reportedly proved itself recently by shooting down the French-made Rafale Aircraft that was being used by India. The AAM-4 though only has roughly the same Range as the “C” Version of the AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile (AMRAAM).

It doesn’t go as far as the “D” Version of the AMRAAM, but then again the United States (US) seems to be only willing to sell to the Philippines their AMRAAM C and not the AMRAAM D Version which they reserve only for themselves and their closest Allies.

Putting an AESA Radar on a Missile will also likely make it a bit more expensive than the usual. The F-2 is interesting, but personally I would still pick the newer JAS-39E/F Gripen over it because of the Gripen’s Advantage in Terms of “Dispersed Operations”.

SOURCES:

PAF also considering Japan-made Aircraft for Future Projects {Archived Link}

F-2 Support Fighter {Archived Link}