An exhibition of the F-2 Viper Zero, the Japanese fighter that looks like an F-16 but isn't

October 7th marked 30 years since the first flight of an aircraft little known in the West, but whose appearance is very familiar to us.

Japan imitates the Super Hornet from 'Top Gun Maverick' with one of its F-15 Eagle fighters
The impressive formation of Japanese F-35 fighters at the Misawa Airshow

In 1985, Japan launched a study to design a new fighter jet, the FS-X, to replace its Mitsubishi F-1 fighters, just six years after their first flight, demonstrating remarkable foresight. At a time of some tension between the two governments, the United States began pressuring Japan to base the new fighter on an American model, proposing the F-16 Fighting Falcon or the F/A-18 Hornet as a foundation. Finally, the two countries reached an agreement for a joint project in 1988.

Ultimately, the FS-X was based on the F-16, as its manufacturer, General Dynamics, had already offered Japan a specific version of that fighter. The project was divided between the two countries, with 60% going to the Japanese industry and 40% to the American one. The new fighter was much more expensive than the F-16 due to the high development costs, with each aircraft costing four times more than an F-16 Block 50/52.

The Mitsubishi F-2, nicknamed "Viper Zero" in Japan (Viper being the unofficial nickname for the F-16 and Zero a reference to the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter of World War II), made its first flight on October 7, 1995, and entered production in 1996. Ultimately, 4 prototypes and 94 production aircraft were built, which increased its unit price, as the 1995 forecast was for 141 aircraft. Deliveries were completed on September 27, 2011.

The most visible difference between the F-2 and the F-16 is that the Japanese fighter has a greater wingspan, both in its wings and stabilizers. The cockpit is also different, with a fixed front visor that the F-16 lacks. The F-2 uses Japanese avionics and a Japanese active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, installed in a nose that is wider and longer than the F-16's, making it the first fighter to use this type of radar. The performance of both fighters is very similar, although the F-2 has a higher service ceiling (18,000 meters, compared to the F-16's 15,000). Like the F-16, the Viper Zero has a single-seat version, the F-2A, and a two-seat version, the F-2B, the latter for conversion training.

Japan is the sole operator of this fighter jet, which is no longer in production. The F-2 equips three fighter squadrons of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (two at Tsuiki Air Base and one at Hyakuri Air Base), a training squadron at Matsushima Air Base, and a test wing at Gifu Air Base. This Sunday, the F-2 Viper Zero was seen in flight at the Tsuiki Air Base air show, home to the 6th and 8th Tactical Fighter Squadrons. Tonkatsu298 posted this video showing several F-2s flying in formation:

In this other video from Tonkatsu298 we can see the aerobatics performed by one of these fighter jets:

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Main photo: Tonkatsu298 / Other photos: Japan Air Self-Defense Force.