Maiden Flight: Monday, July 29, 1985
IOC: 1988
Total Production: 180
Also Known As
T-4 Blue Impulse (JASDF aerobatic display team)
Origin Japan
Contractor/s Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) * Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Description:
The Kawasaki T-4 is an intermediate and advanced trainer similar to the European Alpha Jet designed to provide fighter aircraft training. The T-4 was developed by Kawasaki to meet the requirements of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) for a T-1 and T-33 training aircraft replacement in the 1980s. The first prototype flew on July 29, 1985. The JASDF took delivery of the first production T-4 aircraft in 1988. The JASDF requirement called for the production of approximately180-200 T-4s by 2000. Fuji and Mitsubishi were also involved in the airframe manufacturing.
The tandem twin-seat T-4 training aircraft is powered by two Ishikawajima-Harima (IHI) F3-IHI-30 turbofan engines each rated at 3,680-lb of thrust. The T-4 can achieve a top speed of 1,038 kph and has a maximum range of 1,200 kilometers or 1,600 kilometers with two droppable fuel tanks. The aircraft was designed to carry weaponry using underwing pylons. In addition to the training role, the T-4 can be serve as liaison aircraft. The JASDF also provided the T-4 to its aerobatic display team called the Blue Impulse.
Specifications Accommodation: Crew 2
Dimensions: Height 4.6 m, Length 13 m, Wing Area 21 square meter, Wingspan 9.9 m
Weights: Max Takeoff Weight 7,500 kg (16,534 lb), Min Weight 3,790 kg (8,355 lb), Payload 2,000 kg (4,409 lb)
Engine/s Performance: Thrust 7,360 lb (3,338 kg)
Performance: Ceiling 50,000 ft (15,240 m), Climb Rate 10,240 fpm (), Cruise Speed 797 kph (495 mph), Max Range 1,667 km (900 nm), Top Speed 1,038 kph (645 mph), Top Speed at Sea Level 1,038 kph (645 mph)
Other: Number of Engines 2
Operators
Japan / 180
Image Gallery
Notes (*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)
Japan / 180 