Rikugun Ki-202

Ki-202 Shūsui-Kai
Role	Rocket-powered interceptor aircraft
Manufacturer	Rikugun Kokugijitsu Kenkyujo
Status	Cancelled
Primary user	Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
Number built	0
Developed from	Messerschmitt Me 163

The Rikugun Ki-202 Shūsui-Kai (Japanese: 三菱 Ki-202 秋水改, translated as "Sharp Sword, improved") was a direct development of the German Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet rocket-powered interceptor aircraft. None were produced before Japan's surrender that ended World War II.

In a split from the development of the Mitsubishi J8M and Mitsubishi Ki-200, the IJA instructed Rikugun to develop a new design based on the Me 163, independent of the IJN's J8M. A fundamental shortcoming of the Me 163, and all other aircraft based on it, was extremely limited endurance, typically only a few minutes. The Imperial Japanese Navy proposed to improve the endurance of the J8M1 by producing a version with only one cannon, thereby saving weight and space for more fuel (the J8M2). The Army, on the other hand, opted to keep both cannon, but enlarge the airframe to accommodate larger tanks, resulting in the Ki-202, which was to have been the definitive Army version of the fighter. Power was to be supplied by a 2,000 kg (4,409 lb) thrust Mitsubishi Toku Ro.3 (KR20) rocket motor. Undercarriage was to have been a sprung skid and tail-wheel.

Specifications (Ki-202 estimated)

Data from Japanese Secret Projects:Experimental aircraft of the IJA and IJN 1939-1945^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 7.68 m (25 ft 2 in)
• Wingspan: 9.72 m (31 ft 11 in)
• Height: 2.74 m (9 ft 0 in)
• Wing area: 18.39 m² (197.9 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 1,619 kg (3,569 lb)
• Gross weight: 3,384 kg (7,460 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 5,015 kg (11,056 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Mitsubishi Toku Ro.3 liquid-fuelled rocket motor, 19.61 kN (4,409 lbf) thrust

Performance

• Maximum speed: 900 km/h (559 mph; 486 kn) at 10,000 m (32,808 ft)
  
• Landing speed: 132 km/h (82 mph)
• Endurance: 10 minutes 28 seconds
• Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,370 ft)
• Rate of climb: 12.346 m/s (2,430.3 ft/min) initial
• Time to altitude:
  
  • 2,000 m (6,562 ft) in 1 minute 21 seconds
  • 4,000 m (13,123 ft) in 2 minutes
  • 6,000 m (19,685 ft) in 2 minute 34 seconds
  • 8,000 m (26,247 ft) in 3 minute 2 seconds
  • 10,000 m (32,808 ft) in 3 minute 26 seconds
• Wing loading: 272.43 kg/m² (55.80 lb/sq ft)

Armament

• Guns: 2 × 30 mm (1.18 in) Ho 155-II cannon

See also

Related development

• Messerschmitt Me 163
• Mitsubishi J8M

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of Japan
• List of fighter aircraft

Notes

1. Dyer, Edwin M. III (2009). Japanese Secret Projects:Experimental aircraft of the IJA and IJN 1939-1945 (1st ed.). Hinkley: Midland publishing. pp. 40–42. ISBN 978-1-85780-317-4.

Bibliography

• Dyer, Edwin M. III (2009). Japanese Secret Projects:Experimental aircraft of the IJA and IJN 1939-1945 (1st ed.). Hinkley: Midland publishing. pp. 40–42. ISBN 978-1-85780-317-4.