Yet another design by Takeo Doi, the Kawasaki Ki-102 'Randy' was a twin-engined multi-role aircraft derived from the Ki-96 heavy fighter which never entered production. Despite the fact that it saw only limited combat and was generally unknown until after the war, the Ki-102 was highly regarded as an excellent assault aircraft, excelling particularly in its ground support role although it was versatile enough to be intended for use a a high-altitude interceptor and as a night fighter with larger dimensions, new cockpit, and AI radar supplied by Germany. Many Ki-102s were held in reserve in the anticipation of a US invasion of the Japanese homeland, an event which thanks to the atomic bomb never occurred, but a few experienced units saw combat during the Okinawa campaign while a limited number were used as a platform to test the Igo-1-B guided missile.
The Ki-102 prototype first flew in March 1944, entering service in small numbers in that same year. The Ki-102b was the only variant to enter production in large numbers and was dedicated for ground attack, a role to which it was naturally suited. Two other variants were designed although in the event these were limited to converted Ki-102b aircraft: the first was the Ki-102a high-altitude heavy fighter which suffered from reliability concerns due to unstable superchargers in its engines, the second was the Ki-102c night fighter with a larger fuselage and wings and which was even equipped with primitive German-designed radar.
Preceded by:
NoneSucceeded by:
NoneDesign | Ki-102b |
Code Name | Randy |
Type | Attack |
Year | 1944 |
Crew | 2 |
Dimensions | |
Length | 37 ft 7 in |
Height | 12 ft 2 in |
Wing Span | 51 ft 1 in |
Wing Area | n/a |
Weight | |
Empty | 10,913 lbs |
Maximum | 16,094 lbs |
Wing Loading | 37.4 lb/ft² |
Performance | |
Speed | 360 mph |
Ceiling | 32,808 ft |
Range | 1,243 mi |
Powerplant | |
Engine | 2 x Ha-112-II Mitsubishi 1,500 hp |
Thrust/Weight | 0.55 |
Armament | |
Guns | 1 x 57-mm 2 x 20-mm 1 x 12.7-mm |
Payload | 551 lbs |
Production | |
Built | 215 |
Total | 238 |