The Mitsubishi J2M "Raiden" (雷電, "Thunderbolt") was a single-engine, land-based fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II. The Allied codename was "Jack".

The J2M was designed by Jiro Horikoshi , creator of the Mitsubishi A6M "Zero". It was strictly a local-defense interceptor intended to counter the threat of high-altitude bomber raids, and thus relied on speed, climb performance, and armament at the expense of maneuvrability. The J2M was a sleek but stubby craft with its oversized Mitsubishi Kasei engine buried behing a long cowling, cooled by an intake fan and connected to the propeller with a long extension shaft. Pilot visibility was poor.

A surviving J2M is on display at the Planes of Fame museum in Chino, California.

Specifications (J2M5)

General Characteristics

• Crew: one, pilot
• Length: 9.95 m (32 ft 8 in)
• Wingspan: 10.80 m (35 ft 5 in)
• Height: 3.94 m (13 ft 0 in)
• Wing area: 20 m² (216 ft²)
• Empty: 2,839 kg (6,259 lb)
• Loaded: 3,482 kg (7,676 lb)
• Maximum takeoff: kg ( lb)
• Powerplant: 1x Mitsubishi MK4U-A 14-cylinder radial, 1,358 kW (1,820 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 615 km/h (382 mph)
• Range: 555 km (345 miles)
• Service ceiling: m ( ft)
• Rate of climb: 925 m/min (3,030 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 174 kg/m² (35 lb/ft²)
• Power/Mass: 0.39 kW/kg (0.24 hp/lb)

Armament

• 2x 20 mm Type 99 cannon in wings

Related content

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Comparable aircraft:

Designation sequence: J1N - J2M - J3K - J4M - J5N