11/30/2013. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "Japan's first indigenous combat aircraft to be produced after the end of WW II, the F-1 originated from a 1972 decision to develop a single-seat close air support fighter with secondary air-air capability from the Mitsubishi T-2 supersonic trainer. The overall performance of the latter was such that virtually no aerodynamic modifications had to be made, the principal change from the T-2 to the F-1 being the fairing over of the rear cockpit without changing the contours.

The two prototypes of the F-1, both of which flew for the first time in June 1975, were modified T-2s with weapons systems equipment and test instrumentation in the rear cockpits. Powered by two 7,070 lb (3,207 kg) st with after-burning Ishikawajima-Harima TF40-IHI-801A (license-built Rolls-Royce/Turboméca Adour) turbofans, the F-1 was armed with a single 0.787 in (20 mm) JM61 multi-barrel cannon in the lower front fuselage and had provision for up to 6,000 lb (2,721 kg) of bombs or rockets on the fuselage center line and four wing hard points. Normal armament comprised two ASM-1 air-to-surface missiles and two or four AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.

The JASDF purchased 77 F-1s, 70 of these being retrofitted during 1991-93 to enable them to remain in service until 1999-2000. The retrofit included installation of an advanced fire control system, provision of a stronger cockpit canopy and compatibility with the ASM-2 anti-shipping missile and XGCS homing bomb."

Span: 25 ft 10.25 in (7.88 m)
Length: 58 ft 7 in (17.66 m)
Height: 14 ft 4.75 in (4.39 m)
Wing area: 228 sq.ft (21,18 sq.m)
Empty weight: 14,017 lb (6,358 kg)
Loaded weight: 30,146 lb (13,674 kg)
Max speed: 1,056 mph (1,700 kmh) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m)
Climb: 35,000 ft (10,668 m)/min
Combat radius: 346 mls (556 km)