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Kawasaki T-4


Subsonic Intermediate Jet Trainer Aircraft


Japan | 1988



"The Kawasaki T-4 intermediate jet trainer was introduced in 1988 and went on to see over 200 examples produced for the JASDF."

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Kawasaki T-4 Subsonic Intermediate Jet Trainer Aircraft.
2 x Ishikawajima-Harima F3-IHI-30 turbofan engines developing 3,520 lb of thrust each.
Propulsion
646 mph
1,040 kph | 562 kts
Max Speed
1,038 miles
1,670 km | 902 nm
Operational Range
Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Kawasaki T-4 Subsonic Intermediate Jet Trainer Aircraft.
2
(MANNED)
Crew
42.7 ft
13.00 m
O/A Length
32.6 ft
(9.95 m)
O/A Width
14.8 ft
(4.50 m)
O/A Height
8,356 lb
(3,790 kg)
Empty Weight
16,535 lb
(7,500 kg)
MTOW
Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Kawasaki T-4 Subsonic Intermediate Jet Trainer Aircraft .
OPTIONAL:
2 x External hardpoints for carrying conventional drop bombs, rocket pods, or fuel tanks for training purposes.
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Kawasaki T-4 family line.
XT-4 - Prototype Designation; four examples completed.
T-4 Base Series Designation; primary production model of which 208 have been produced.
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 07/25/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Requiring a modern successor to its aging line of Lockheed T-33 intermediate jet trainers, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) commissioned Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) to design, develop and manufacture a new local solution. The work spawned the Kawasaki "T-4" of which four prototypes were built to the "XT-4" design standard and a first-flight was recorded on July 29th, 1985. Since then, some 208 examples have been delivered to the JASDF, Japan being the only operator of this aircraft series. Service entry was had in 1988.

As an intermediate jet trainer, the T-4 is intended as a bridge product for airmen cadets transitioning from basic turboprop trainers to full-fledged jet-powered combat warplanes. As such, the T-4 sports jet powerplants and exhibits high-performance capabilities. Composites are used in its construction to keep weight levels down yet retain a robustness the aircraft needs in performing combat-like maneuvers.

Such is the quality and capability of the design that it is featured as the mount-of-choice for the "Blue Impulse" aerobatics team of Japan. The team graduated to the T-4 from the earlier T-2 jets. Prior to that, the group relied on the North American F-86 Sabre jets (F-models).

The aircraft seats its crew of two, student and instructor, in tandem under a single-piece, lightly framed canopy set ahead of midships. There is an elongated nosecone assembly ahead of the crew and the fuselage tapers to the rear in the typical way. A single vertical tailfin in featured and a pair of horizontal planes complete the empennage. A retractable tricycle undercarriage allows for ground running. The wing mainplanes are mid-mounted along the sides of the fuselage and have underwing hardpoints while being plumbed for fuel delivery. The mainplanes are also swept back for aerodynamic efficiency at high speed.

Dimensions include a length of 42.7 feet, a wingspan of 32.6 feet and a height of 15 feet. Empty weight is 8,360lb against an MTOW of 16,530lb.

Power is served through 2 x Ishikawajima-Harima F3-IHI-30 series turbofan engines developing 3,520lb of thrust each unit. These are aspirated through rounded-rectangle intakes seated to either side of the cockpit and exhaust through ports at the rear-underside of the aircraft. Performance specs include a maximum speed of 645 miles per hour and a range out to 1,035 miles.

Kawasaki markets the T-4 under the strengths of stability and maneuverability - hallmarks of excellent jet trainers.

Despite its Cold War-era roots, the T-4 continues to serve the JASDF service branch today (2017).

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Kawasaki T-4. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 212 Units

Contractor(s): Kawasaki - Japan
National flag of modern Japan

[ Japan ]
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Image of the Kawasaki T-4
Image released to the Public Domain through the US DoD DVIDS imagery database.

Going Further...
The Kawasaki T-4 Subsonic Intermediate Jet Trainer Aircraft appears in the following collections:
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