JASDF F-2D

[Dizzyfugu]

Nice. I've been thinking about a canardized F-16 for a while, too, and your build confirms my thoughts/worries/plans if I sould tackle this idea. Very neat outcome, well done. 

[PR19_Kit]

One can't help but wonder if the extra development expense was worth it, over the basic F-16 spec.

[DogfighterZen]

One can't help but wonder if the extra development expense was worth it, over the basic F-16 spec.

That's a very good question and i've read stuff about that. The F-2A was designed with anti-shipping role as priority, that's why it got an ugly A.F. reinforced canopy for low level operations. It is heavier and slower. The bigger wing gives it a lower wing loading and lift but also more drag and probably loses speed faster in a turn. Design errors also led to wings cracking...
The AESA radar had severe design problems and was as effective as the F-5E's standard radar but i suspect that it may have been fixed since the time they were deployed. It has the same GE engine of the F-16C Block 40/50 and it's a ton heavier so, that should say something... Oh and all at a cost of almost 110 million USD... The F-16C Block 50 cost is 25 to 35 million USD, depending on the options chosen (radar, CFTs, etc.). IMHO, that was a big mistake for Japan.
And that doesn't include most of the development costs it needed till it was ready for production.

[Old Wombat]

However, it kept the appropriate skill sets & technologies active in Japan, rather than going off-shore to foreigners who may, or may not be able to, or want to supply you in the event of a war.

[DogfighterZen]

Yep, that's true. The knowledge and capability to produce your own stuff is important, no doubt. It's just that the F-2A never did reach the capability that was expected of it and the price was too high for what they got. I also know that the US/Japan comercial relations weren't the best at time and that the US was reluctant to share sensitive 5th gen tech so, that does help the F-2A's case as they didn't have too many options back then so. It does make seem that it was safer to spend the money and gain the knowledge for the future.
The ATD-x program is back online so, i guess that in the long run, that investment may be paying off.

[comrade harps]

That's beautiful

[su27rules]