Kawasaki Ki-108

Kawasaki Ki-108 History

The Ki-102 heavy fighter was introduced by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (IJAAS) late in the Pacific War, and only 238 were built by the end of 1945. As the successor to the Ki-45 "Toryu", this twin-engine, two-seat system provides long-range range to ground forces, and three main variants are planned, including a dedicated night fighter. The Ki-102 will continue to see limited operations in conflict (reserved for self-defense) with little impact on the outcome of the war.

His Allied reporting name was "Randy".

Another planned branch of the heavy fighter / advanced interceptor "Ki-108" emerged from this basic design. The form is modeled after a high-altitude fighter jet capable of hitting America's new heavy bombers - the Boeing B-29 "Superfortresses" - which are becoming well known over Japan. Two aircraft of the Ki-102b family (Nos. 7 and 8) were reserved for the development phase of the Ki-108.

The Ki-102b also received improvements from the Ki-102c night fighter, most notably its elongated fuselage. Dimensions include a length of 38.4 feet, a height of 12 feet and a wingspan of 51.4 feet. Unlike the Ki-102 and Ki-96, the Ki-108 can only carry one crew member instead of two.

Since its primary role is high-altitude interception, pressurized cabins become a standard requirement, as is high-altitude performance. The aircraft will carry 1 x 37mm Ho 203 gun and 2 x 20mm Ho in the nose assembly. 5 guns buried under the cockpit floor.

Engines of choice were 2 Mitsubishi Ha-112-II "Ru" 14-cylinder turbocharged air-cooled radial engines mounted on the leading edge of the wing and spanning the slender fuselage. Maximum power is 1,500 hp at takeoff, and about 1,000 hp at 32,000 feet.

Estimated performance specs include a top speed of 360 mph, a service ceiling of 44,300 feet and a range of up to 1,120 miles.

The design of the Ki-108, although partly based on the Ki-102, was also based on another proposed Kawasaki heavy fighter - a single-seat twin-engine form under development, the aforementioned "Ki-96". This model has been in service since mid-1942 and seemed to fit the IJA's new requirements very well, so it was boosted with some of the Ki-102 qualities to create an entirely new aircraft.

The Ki-96, another intended successor to the Ki-45, failed in this regard - only three prototypes were realized for the project.

With that in mind, the Ki-108 became the pinnacle of excursions from the Ki-96 and the Ki-102, which borrowed the wings and tail of its ancestors, although the Ki-108 was an all-new tail. Its cockpit will be sealed and feature a "double-glazed" canopy so the engine won't have to produce the compressed air it needs. Work on the 1944 Ki-108 produced a prototype in a fairly short time frame for July, followed by a second prototype in August.

The flight test was conducted without a scheduled turbo.

Along with the Ki-108, the Ki-108 KAI received a longer fuselage and wide wingspan main aircraft (same as the Ki-102-Hei). These changes were aimed at improving handling and high-altitude performance, so two additional prototypes were ordered, the first arriving in March 1945. A second plane arrived in May, but the pair didn't develop fast enough to deal with Japan's worsening fortunes in the war, and their route ended prematurely at the end of the Pacific War in August 1945.

The Ki-108 KAI has improved overall speed (375 mph) and range (1,370 miles).

All four of these aircraft were from the Ki-108 project, the design of which was never actually completed and its combat potential still unrealized.

Specification

Basic

Production

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Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes