Kawasaki Ki-102

Kawasaki Ki-102
Class Overview
Version	Ki-102b
Built by	Kawasaki Kōkūki Kōgyō K.K.
This Version Built	207
Total Built	238
Length	11.45 m (37 ft 7 in)
Wingspan	15.57 m (51 ft 1 in)
Height	3.7 m (12 ft 2 in)
Wing Area	34 m2 (370 sq ft)
Airfoil	root: NACA 24015 tip: NACA 23010
Empty weight	4,950 kg (10,913 lb)
Full weight	7,300 kg (16,094 lb)
Engine	2 × Mitsubishi Ha112-II Ru 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 1,120 kW (1,500 hp) each
Speed	580 km/h (360 mph, 310 kn)
Range	2,000 km (1,200 mi, 1,100 nmi)
Climb	11.9 m/s (2,340 ft/min)
Ceiling	10,000 m (33,000 ft)
Armament	1 × 57 mm (2.24 in) Ho-401 cannon—replaced in the 102a with a 37 mm (1.46 in) Ho-204 cannon 2 × 20 mm Ho-5 cannon in the belly—replaced in the 102c with 30 mm (1.18 in) cannon in the package, plus oblique-firing 2 × 20 mm cannon, 1 × 12.7 mm (0.50 in) Ho-103 machine gun 2 × 200 L (53 US gal) drop tanks; or 2 × 250 kg (551 lb) bombs or 1 × Kawasaki Igo-1b guided missile
Crew	2
Usage
Role(s)	Ground attack/night interception
First Flight	1944
Introduced	1944
Retired	1945
Used by	Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
Related aircraft	Kawasaki Ki-96
[Source]

The Kawasaki Ki-102 (Army Type 4 assault aircraft) was a Japanese warplane of World War II. It was a twin-engine, two-seat, long-range heavy fighter developed to replace the Ki-45 Toryu. Three versions were planned: the Ki-102a day fighter, Ki-102b ground-attack and Ki-102c night fighter. This aircraft's Allied reporting name was "Randy".

Design and history

The Ki-102 entered service in 1944, but saw limited action. The main type (102b) was kept in reserve to protect Japan, although it did see some limited duty in the Okinawa campaign. It was kept out of front line service because it was hoped that it would be the carrier of the Igo-1-B air-to-ground guided missile when the Allied invasion of Japan occurred.

Variants

Ki-102

prototypes, three built

Ki-102a (Type Kō)

Externally similar to the 102b, but with turbosuperchargers that enabled the engine to maintain its rating at higher altitudes. The 57 mm (2.24 in) cannon was swapped in favor of a 37 mm (1.46 in) cannon, and the 12.7 mm (.50 in) rear gun was deleted, 26 built.

Ki-102b (Type Otsu)

Ground-attack variant similar to prototypes, except with revised tail wheel, 207 built

Ki-102c (Type Hei)

Night fighter version with lengthened fuselage and span. Radar under a Plexiglas dome, oblique-firing 20 mm cannons, and the 20 mm cannons in the belly replaced with 30 mm (1.18 in) cannons in Schräge Musik behind the cockpit, two built.

Ki-108

High-altitude fighter prototype with pressurised cabin, two conversions from Ki-102b aircraft using the structural improvements used on the 102c.

Ki-108 Kai

Improved version of the Ki-108 with longer fuselage and enlarged wings. Two built.

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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• Mitsubishi Ki-83
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