Kai-07 Raiden
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| Kai-07 Raiden | |
|---|---|
| Role | Carrier-based Multirole Fighter |
| National origin | |
| Manufacturer | TBD Tsurushiman Company Mach Aerospace |
| First flight | 1992 |
| Introduction | 2000 |
| Status | In production and in service |
| Primary user | Tsurushiman Air Force Tsurushiman Navy Daoan Air Force |
| Produced |  August 1999 – present September 2011 – present
|
| Number built | TBD |
The Kai-07 Raiden (Tsurushiman: 雷電) is an all weather twin-engine, carrier-capable, multirole combat aircraft developed and designed by Tsurushima. The program was initiated and led by the Tsurushiman government in 1987, until Daobac joined the program in 2006 to develop new variants of the Raiden. Since then Tsurushima held 75% of the program shares whereas Daobac held remaining 35%. Tsurushima required a fighter that was lighter and smaller than the Kai-79 Hayabusa and ZLv-79 but also possess advanced characteristics that would make it as a competitive alternative to the advanced but more expensive 5th generation fighters. This resulted in the need of a 4.5 generation that was more advanced than the standard 4th generation fighter, but not as advanced and costly as a true 5th generation fighter. The Raiden was intended to be capable to fulfill a number of roles ranging from combat, fleet air defense, suppression of enemy air defenses, air interdiction and reconnaisance missions. Its versatility is largely owed to its ability to carry a wide variety of ordnances and equipment, advanced avionics and various other characteristics of its design. Development of the first generation of Raidens began in 1987 and was focused largely on carrier-based fighter to fulfill the needs of the Tsurushiman Navy. To reduce cost and development time the Raiden incorporated some technologies and features from the Kai-79 and ZLv-79 fighters and in later Raiden variants, the Daoan MV-25 Eagle fighter. Rather than developing 100% from scaratch, the inclusion of existing technologies allowed the designers to create a reliable aircraft based on tested and battle proven technologies while at the same time adding on enchancements and improvements to it. Development of the first Kai-07 began in 1987 and its first flight test was conducted in XX <MONTH> 1992. There are currently two main variants of the Raiden, the first being designated the Kai-07A as a carrier-based fighter jet and was introduced into service in 2000. The Kai-07A also became the standard airframe and model from which all future Raidens are based on. The next major variant, the Kai-07E, is the CTOL and improved version the Kai-07A designed for both the Daoan and Tsurushiman Air Forces introduced in 2015. In Daobac the Kai-07 is designated as the MV-26 Falcon, the successor of the MV-25 Eagle.
Development
Initiation by Tsurushima
Daoan Participation
In 2003 the Daoan Air Force commissioned an investigation to determine the future of its existing squadron of MV-25 Eagle fighters. While the fighters performed well against its regional competitors, leadership elements within the Daoan Air force anticipated that unless a replacement or major improvement was initiated then the Daoan Air Force would find itself outmatched by other air forces in the region. As a result the Daoan Air Force initiated a procurement program to improve the capabilities of the MV-25 Eagles or, failing to do so, replace it with a superior fighter. Proposals to enchance the Eagle's capabilities were ultimately rejected as the substantial cost of developing new technologies and implementing the improvements would only prolong the Eagle's effectiveness for only four years which resulted in an overall net loss for any improvements. The Daoan Air Force then turned its attention to Tsurushima's fleet of Kai-07A Raidens. The multirole fighter was a perfect candidate and fit to many of the Daoan Air Force's requirements and it would negate Daobac's need to research and develop new technologies and features. The Daoan Government approached its Tsurushiman counterparts to negotiate Daoan participation in their Raiden project. After two years of negotiations, in 2006 Daobac was officially permitted to participate in the Raiden program to develop new variants of the Raiden. Daobac offerred both investment and its expertise in the field of aerospace engineering to the Tsurushimans as part of its participation in the program. In return Daobac was able to secure new aerospace and weapon technologies that it previously had difficulty developing by itself. While there were many similarities in the requirements that the Daoan Air Force had for the Raiden, it greatly differed in one key feature: Daobac required only a CTOL version whereas Tsurushima originally developed the Raiden as a carrier-borne fighter compatible with the CATOBAR technology onboard its aircraft carriers. As the CTOL variant was developed nearly half a decade after the program began in 1987, the Daoans and Tsurushimans were able to provide not just improvements but also innovative new technologies to the Raiden. These included a new suite of avionics and some modifications to the airframe to improve the Raiden's overall performance. To be continued