Masaoka Group Type 5
| MkG Type 5 Karyū II | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type 5s of the 281 Tactical Fighter Squadron returning to Gyuji Air Base, 2021 | |
| Role | Stealth air superiority fighter |
| National origin | Dayashina |
| Manufacturer | Masaoka Group |
| Designer | Keisuke Nakamura Yohji Ueno |
| First flight | 1996 |
| Introduction | 2005 |
| Status | In production and service |
| Primary user | Republic of Dayashina Air Force |
| Number built | 160 |
| Unit cost |
~$150 million
|
| Developed from | MkG Type 88 Demonstrator MkG Type 96 Demonstrator |
The Masaoka Group Type 5 "Karyū II" is a Dayashinese fifth generation single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth air superiority and strike fighter developed for the Republic of Dayashina Air Force (RDAF). It is the final product of the RDAF's Stealth Advantage Initiative. It was originally developed as a smaller stealth strike platform to accompany the MkG Type 87 in strike operations, but when the Type 87 project was cancelled, the platform was re-purposed by the Masaoka Group to implement air superiority and interception systems so as to avoid project cancellation. The result was an aircraft capable of ground attack, deep strike, air superiority, electronic warfare, and signal intelligence functions.
The Type 5 is stealthier and faster than comparable fifth generation aircraft, but is known to be less agile, despite compensations made over time to the design of the airframe by MkG. Despite this, the aircraft was still found to satisfy and exceed the RDAF's requirements for the program. Subsequently, an initial order was placed for 120 Type 5s, with option for 80 more in the long term. The 2019 Defence Reforms saw the option for 80 get cut down to 40 immediately, and resulted in the confirmation of Dayashina's removal from the Huntress 5th generation project.
Development
The Type 5 originated as a stealth strike platform meant to accompany the cancelled Type 87 stealth bomber. Dayashina had been working on stealth technology for aircraft for quite some time beforehand, and had long placed requirements for companies to build the RDAF into an unrivaled force as far as deep strike capacity, largely in response to the half-century long cold war between Dayashina and Menghe, which saw Menghe threaten nuclear strike on Dayashina. The Type 88 Demonstrator largely fit this capacity, but with the cancellation of the Type 87 in light of detente with Menghe, the Type 88 looked to be under threat of cancellation as well. Looking to cut its losses, Masaoka Group bargained a contract from the government to reform the Type 88 Demonstrator into a more versatile, air-to-air platform meant to satisfy the the Republic's needs in the long term. Having won the contract, they produced the Type 96 Demonstrator, which brought to light a number of modifications and improvements to the Type 88 in order to reform the platform into something that would be viable for the government to accept. After some discussions, the modified Type 96 was selected by the government to be further developed into what would become the Type 5.
Ban on exports
The Dayashinese government placed a ban on the exportation of the Type 5 very soon after its commissioning to protect its stealth technology and other high-tech features. The policy was largely the product of remaining general wariness among the government towards Menghe, along with an overt erring on the side of caution and protectionism in general espoused by the governing coalition at the time. Despite this, customers purchasing other versions of Dayashinese aircraft are receiving technology similar to what is present on the Type 5. Furthermore, in 2018, Prime Minister Daichi Noru stated that the government was actively considering lifting the export restriction, specifically with respect to increasing tensions in Meridia.
Operational history
Deployments
Historically, Dayashina has been keen to keep the vast majority of its Type 5s based in the homeland as a deterrence and high level protection measure, and has been wary to deploy them abroad for a variety of reasons. The only current locations outside of Dayashina where Type 5s are deployed are the RDAF Penang Air Base in Sundan, and in a joint air base in Tír Glas.
Two Type 5s based out of Shogazu completed their first intercept in 2009, intercepting a Sylvan bomber based out of Ile de Lern. In 2013, the same pilots escorted Sieuxerran fighter aircraft on their way to Khalistan.
Type 5s completed their first combat sorties in the 2019 Invasion of Vyzhva, notably deploying hypersonic cruise missiles (Mosquitos) against strategic targets in Vyzhva during the initial strikes starting on the night of 15 February 2019. They flew multiple missions supporting coalition ground forces in the later phases of the operation, dropping guided munitions on higher level Vyzhvan targets. They were also noted to accompany Glasic strategic bombers on multiple occasions in or near the combat zone.
Operational problems
Type 5s presented a plethora of operational problems not present on previous iterations of Dayashinese military aircraft. Pilots cited experiencing various negative health effects, such as respiratory issues, cognitive functionality loss, and lingering neurological changes. The effects felt by pilots have caused total groundings of the aircraft on two separate occasions while the problems were addressed and modifications were made to better account for the health of the pilot. Despite reforms, pilots continue to report oxygen issues, albeit less drastic than before the two rounds of reforms.
Variants
- Type 88: First technology demonstrator of the aircraft presented in 1988.
- Type 96: Heavily modified version of the Type 88, being the official technology demonstrator of the Type 5 concept.
- Type 5 Naval Variant: A naval variant of the Type 5, proposed in 2010. Cancelled due to cost and lack of requirement.
Operators
Republic of Dayashina Air Force:
3rd Air Wing, Central Air Command
- 105 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Utsugi Air Base
- 111 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Nakaya Central Air Base
- 122 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Tohokami Air Base
5th Air Wing, Southern Air Command
- 262 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Shogazu Air Base
- 275 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Takena Air Base
- 277 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Gokaido Air Base
- 281 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Gyuji Air Base
6th Air Wing, Northern Air Command
- 301 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Yutari-Takanami Air Base
- 307 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Maya Air Base
- 326 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Gonghae Air Base
Accidents and losses
Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 (pilot)
- Length: 67 ft 5 in (20.60 m)
- Wingspan: 43 ft 7 in (13.30 m)
- Height: 13 ft 11 in (4.30 m)
- Wing area: 900 ft2 (88 m2)
- Empty weight: 29,000 lb (13,100 kg)
- Loaded weight: 51,320 lb (23,327 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 67,000 lb (30,391 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Mitsuna AE-119 afterburning turbofan, 35,000 lbf (156 kN) each
Performance
- Maximum speed:
- At altitude: Mach 2.2+ (1,450+ mph, 2,335+ km/h)
- Supercruise: Mach 1.6+ (1,060+ mph, 1,706+ km/h)
- Range: over 2,790 mi (over 4,500 km)
- Combat radius: 750–800 nmi (865–920 mi, 1,380–1480 km)
- Service ceiling: 65,000 ft (19,800 m)
- Wing loading: 57 lb/ft2 (265 kg/m2; at loaded weight)
- Thrust/weight: 1.36
Armament
- Guns: 1× 23mm Rotary cannon, 420 rounds
- Hardpoints: 8× under-wing
- Missiles:
- Bombs:
Avionics
Comparable aircraft
- IAe Huntress, International (Dayashina, Hallia, Tír Glas)
- Songrim SR-12, Menghe
- MiG-55, International (Letnia, Sebrenskiya, Vihoslavia)