Hasegawa 1/72 F-4EJ Kai Super Phantom.
The F-4EJ Kai is a fighter aircraft of the Air Self-Defense Force, developed from the F-4EJ Phantom II.
The F-4EJ, which was decided to be adopted as the successor to the F-86F in 1968 and began deployment in 1969, has been undergoing research and development since 1980 in order to extend the life of the aircraft and improve its capabilities, as more than 20 years have passed since its introduction.
As a result, in February 1982, a refit plan for the F-4EJ was announced.
The modifications were mainly to improve combat capability and to adopt the ASIP inspection system as a measure to extend the service life of the aircraft.
To improve combat capability, the F-4EJ is now equipped with the AN/APG-66J fire control radar, which is a modified version of the Westinghouse AN/APG-66 radar used on the F-16.
This radar was adopted after the MIG-25's forced landing at Hakodate, and is a small pulse Doppler radar suitable for spotting aircraft flying at low altitude over the sea from the air.
In conjunction with this, the on-board computer on the aircraft was changed from an analogue to a digital computer.
This made it possible to integrate the armament system and to operate the domestically produced ASM-1 anti-ship missile.
The navigation system was also changed from analogue to digital.
The digitalisation of the inertial navigation system has improved navigation accuracy considerably, and it also has a target-marking function that can mark up to three target locations.
In addition, as a means of defence, the radar warning system has been upgraded with improved capabilities, and detailed data is displayed on a CRT screen in the cockpit.
The HOTAS concept has also been adopted to simplify the pilot's operating procedures, allowing him to perform various operations while keeping his hands on the control stick and throttle lever.
Along with these modifications, a new heads-up display of the processed data allows the pilot to read the data while facing forward.
The F-4EJ modification adopts the ASIP airframe management system as a measure to prolong the life of the aircraft.
This is a system that manages the flight performance data of each aircraft by computer and allows the fatigue level of each aircraft to be managed individually.
This ASIP system enables a life extension of approximately 2,000 hours per aircraft.
The main mission of the F-4EJ Kai is to conduct bombardment combat, but ground attack is also much improved compared to the F-4EJ, so that when the F-1 support fighter is retired in the future, a squadron of F-4EJ Kai will be assigned to support combat missions.
(Information at the time of kit release).
Product specifications
1/72 scale unpainted assembly kit
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