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| Kawasaki T-4 |
Militarymedia.net - In September 1981, the Japanese Defense Agency selected the KA-851 Kawasaki design as the winning contender for the development of a new intermediate flight trainer. This new type of aircraft will replace the Fuji T1F (T-1) and Lockheed T-33 aircraft in service with the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) in the late 1980s.
Emphasis is placed on high subsonic maneuverability. Detailed designs were completed in late 1983, and construction of six XT-4 prototypes began in the spring of 1984. The construction efforts were undertaken collaboratively, with Fuji building wing, rear and tail fuselage units, Mitsubishi in the fuselage and air center. inlets, and Kawasaki front fuselage.
Power is provided by two F3 engines developed by IHI. As prime contractor, Kawasaki is also responsible for final assembly and testing. The four flying prototypes flew by July 1986; The first prototype went to the air on 29 July 1985. Successful trials resulted in full-scale production with the first production T-4 flying in June 1988. Deliveries commenced three months later to the 31st and 32nd Flight Training Squadrons of the First Air Wing at Hamamatsu. A small number of T-4s are attached to the instrument / communications flight of most operational squadrons, as well as regional headquarters aviation and operational group aviation for liaison duties. The nine T-4s rode the Blue Impulse national aerobatic display team.
The T-4 features a Kaiser head-up and three external hardpoints (one underfuselage and two wingpoints) allowing it to have secondary light attack duty as well as weapons training roles. Kawasaki has proposed an enhanced version as a possible replacement for the Mitsubishi T-2 in the special armament training role. The JASDF had a requirement for 200 T-4s, and had received about 180 units in 2001.
