Aircraft & UAVs

F-2 Support Fighter

Also known as
  • Mitsubishi F-2
  • F-2A/B

The Mitsubishi F-2 is a Japan Air Self-Defense Force close-support fighter developed with the United States from the F-16 to replace the F-1. Official Japanese and Mitsubishi material highlights a larger composite wing, domestically oriented avionics, a single F110-GE-129 engine, and Mach 2.0 performance.

F-2 Support Fighter, Close support fighter jet, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: File:Mitsubishi F-2 at Guam.jpg

Role in Conflicts

2015 Various Conflicts
Side
Unconfirmed conflict context

Exact model: Mitsubishi/Lockheed Martin F-2A/F-2B Support Fighter. It remains in this holding bucket because public sources document JASDF service and modernization, but not confirmed combat use in a named conflict.

Documented Weapon Fit

JASDF equipment material lists the F-2 with an internal 20 mm cannon, radar-guided air-to-air missiles, infrared air-to-air missiles, and anti-ship missiles. Japanese budget and overview sources separately document JDAM, AAM-4B, and ASM-3A integration or procurement for the F-2 fleet.

  • Close-in armament: 20 mm cannon, linked here to the cataloged M61A1 family.
  • Air defense: radar-guided and infrared missile classes, with AAM-4B specifically documented in budget material.
  • Maritime strike: anti-ship missile carriage, including the ASM-3A relationship documented from Ministry of Defense and JASDF overview material.
Design Notes

The F-2 was built around the F-16 Fighting Falcon in a Japan-U.S. development program to replace the F-1, but its support-fighter role drove several Japan-specific changes.

Airframe

MHI highlights a composite structure, lighter materials, and a larger wing intended to improve maneuvering and mission load.

Avionics

Official and program material describes Japanese-developed systems including fly-by-wire controls, integrated electronic warfare equipment, and a glass cockpit.

Powerplant

The JASDF equipment page lists a single F110-GE-129 engine and Mach 2.0 performance.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Japan / United States
Type
Close support fighter jet
Service note
1995-present
Designer
Japan-U.S. joint development program based on the F-16
Designed
1988-1995
Produced
2000-2011
Number built
94
Developed from
F-16 Fighting Falcon

Specifications

Crew
1 or 2
Width
11.1 m
Length
15.5 m
Height
5.0 m
Engine
1 x F110-GE-129
Max speed
Mach 2.0
Armament
20 mm cannon; air-to-air radar missiles; air-to-air infrared missiles; anti-ship missiles
Variants

The production F-2 family is normally divided between the single-seat F-2A fighter and the two-seat F-2B training version.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
F-2ASingle-seat fighter version

Code One describes the F-2A as the single-seat production fighter version.

Sources: Japan's F-2 Support Fighter

F-2BTwo-seat training version

Code One describes the F-2B as the two-seat version used primarily for pilot training.

Sources: Japan's F-2 Support Fighter

Powerplant

The F-2's official equipment page identifies the installed engine, which is also a cataloged aircraft powerplant.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
GE Aerospace F110, Afterburning turbofan fighter engine, Support EquipmentGE Aerospace F110Afterburning turbofan engine

The JASDF equipment page lists a single F110-GE-129 engine for the F-2.

Sources: JASDF F-2A/B Equipment Page

Carried Munitions

Japanese budget material identifies the carried munitions documented for the F-2.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
M61A1 Vulcan cannon, 20mm aircraft cannon, Aircraft & UAVsM61A1 Vulcan cannon20 mm aircraft cannon

JASDF material lists the M61 aircraft gun as compatible with the F-2, and the F-2 equipment page lists a 20 mm cannon among the aircraft's armament.

Sources: JASDF M61 Aircraft Gun, JASDF F-2A/B Equipment Page

Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kit, GPS/INS guidance tail kit for free-fall bombs, MunitionsJoint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kitGPS/INS-guided bomb

Japanese Ministry of Defense fighter-production material lists JDAM carriage as an F-2 capability improvement.

Sources: Fighter Production Technology Interim Report

ASM-3A, Japanese air-to-ship missile, MunitionsASM-3AAir-to-ship missile

The Ministry of Defense lists ASM-3A as an F-2 weapon, and JASDF overview material shows ASM-3A with the F-2.

Sources: FY2023 Defense Programs and Budget of Japan, JASDF Overview 2024

AAM-4B, Medium-range air-to-air missile, MunitionsAAM-4BMedium-range air-to-air missile

The Ministry of Defense says AAM-4B is obtained for F-2 and F-15 aircraft.

Sources: FY2021 Supplementary Defense Budget

Timeline

F-2 Support Fighter Key Events

  1. Japan-U.S. development agreement

    MHI says Japan and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding in November 1988 for F-2 development.

    Sources: F-2 Fighter

  2. Support fighter team formed

    MHI says the support fighter design team was formed in March 1990.

    Sources: F-2 Fighter

  3. Full-scale model completed

    MHI says the F-2 program completed an actual-scale model in June 1992.

    Sources: F-2 Fighter

  4. First prototype flight

    MHI says the first F-2 prototype flew in October 1995.

    Sources: F-2 Fighter

  5. First prototype delivery

    MHI says the first prototype was delivered in March 1996.

    Sources: F-2 Fighter

  6. Production memorandum signed

    MHI says Japan and the United States signed a production memorandum of understanding for the F-2 in July 1996.

    Sources: F-2 Fighter

  7. First production delivery

    MHI says the first production F-2 was delivered in September 2000.

    Sources: F-2 Fighter

  8. First operational squadron conversion

    Code One says the 3rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Misawa formally switched from the F-1 to the F-2 in March 2001.

    Sources: Japan's F-2 Support Fighter

  9. Production ends

    A Ministry of Defense report says F-2 production ended in FY2011 after 94 aircraft were built.

    Sources: Defense Aircraft Production Report

  10. Replacement program starts

    The Ministry of Defense says the next-generation fighter program started in 2020 to replace the F-2.

    Sources: GCAP Overview

Current Role And Replacement

The Ministry of Defense identifies the F-2 as one of Japan's current fighter types alongside the F-35 and F-15, while the Global Combat Air Programme page frames the next-generation fighter as the F-2 successor path. FY2023 budget material lists capability upgrades for nine F-2 aircraft worth 128 billion yen; that line is upgrade spending, not a published aircraft purchase price.

Media

F-2 Support Fighter Videos

F-2 Support Fighter Images

F-2 Support Fighter, Close support fighter jet, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: File:Mitsubishi F-2 at Guam (Cropped).jpg
F-2 Support Fighter, Close support fighter jet, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2
Source: File:Mitsubishi F-2 landing.JPG
Related Weapon Systems
F-16BM MLU, Two-seat multirole fighter aircraft upgrade, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsF-16BM MLUTwo-seat multirole fighter aircraft upgradeThe F-16BM MLU is the two-seat Mid-Life Update version of the F-16B, modernized with F-16C/D-style avionics, radar-guided missile capability, and updated cockpit systems while retaining the basic F-16 airframe. It is relevant as both a combat-capable trainer and an operational multirole fighter; public sources tie the wider F-16AM/BM MLU fleet to Kosovo, Libya, Pakistan's 2019 India-Pakistan air clash, and AM/BM aircraft supplied to Ukraine during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.
F-15EX Eagle II, Multirole fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsF-15EX Eagle IIMultirole fighter aircraftThe F-15EX Eagle II is Boeing's latest U.S. Air Force F-15 variant, a two-seat multirole fighter intended to replace aging F-15C/D aircraft while adding digital fly-by-wire controls, open mission systems, modern electronic warfare, and a 29,500-pound payload. U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard milestones trace the aircraft from 2021 test delivery through Portland operational fielding, weapons-training coverage, and Kadena transition work.

Sources

F-2 FighterPublisher: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | Note: Supports the official role, Japan Air Self-Defense Force operator context, manufacturer background, dimensions, composite-structure features, and development milestones. | Accessed: 2026-07-04F-2 Support FighterPublisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports the support-fighter designation and Lockheed Martin's program background for the aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Japan's F-2 Support FighterPublisher: Code One Magazine / Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company | Note: Supports F-2A/F-2B variant distinctions, total build context including prototypes, last-airframe delivery in 2011, squadron service timeline, and design differences from the F-16. | Accessed: 2026-07-04JASDF Photo GalleryPublisher: Japan Air Self-Defense Force | Note: Supports the official JASDF fighter-jet gallery listing for the F-2A/B designation and operator context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04JASDF M61 Aircraft GunPublisher: Japan Air Self-Defense Force Air Park | Note: Supports the M61 aircraft-gun relationship by listing the F-2 among compatible aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-07-04JASDF F-2A/B Equipment PagePublisher: Japan Air Self-Defense Force | Note: Supports the close-support fighter role, engine model, performance figures, armament list, and current JASDF equipment context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Defense Aircraft Production ReportPublisher: Ministry of Defense, Japan | Note: Supports the 94-aircraft build total and the FY2011 production end point for the F-2 program. | Accessed: 2026-07-04FY2021 Supplementary Defense BudgetPublisher: Ministry of Defense, Japan | Note: Supports the AAM-4B loadout relationship for the F-2 and the associated procurement context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Fighter Production Technology Interim ReportPublisher: Ministry of Defense, Japan | Note: Supports the F-2 JDAM carriage capability-improvement relationship. | Accessed: 2026-07-04JASDF Overview 2024Publisher: Japan Air Self-Defense Force | Note: Supports the ASM-3A listing alongside the F-2 in the public JASDF overview. | Accessed: 2026-07-04GCAP OverviewPublisher: Ministry of Defense, Japan | Note: Supports the successor-program context for the F-2 and the planned retirement around 2035. | Accessed: 2026-07-04FY2023 Defense Programs and Budget of JapanPublisher: Ministry of Defense, Japan | Note: Supports the FY2023 F-2 capability-upgrade budget line and the public cost context used in the page copy. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Defense Programs and Budget of Japan 2023Publisher: Ministry of Defense, Japan | Note: Supports the ASM-3A F-2 carriage relationship in the 2023 budget material. | Accessed: 2026-07-04File:Mitsubishi F-2 at Guam.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain image used for the primary F-2 image. | Accessed: 2026-07-04File:Mitsubishi F-2 at Guam (Cropped).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain image used in the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-07-04File:Mitsubishi F-2 landing.JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain image used in the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-07-04