Description

      Following the Sino-Japanese War of 1937, the Japanese Navy experienced small-scale air raids by the Chinese Air Force. This led the Navy to recognize the need for high-speed fighter aircraft for base air defense, and they proposed the development of the Type 14 Local Fighter to Mitsubishi.

      Upon receiving this proposal, Mitsubishi considered equipping the aircraft with a powerful engine.
As the engine they decided on according to the requirements was large in diameter, they used an extended shaft to position the engine at the rear to reduce air resistance, resulting in a spindle-shaped fuselage with a tapered nose, a design unlike any previous Japanese aircraft.

      In 1942, the first prototype was evaluated, and its high landing speed and poor visibility were pointed out. However, after modifications such as redesigning the canopy shape, production of the Raiden Type 11 (J2M2) began in September 1943.

      The Raiden Model 21 (J2M3) was an upgraded version of the Raiden, featuring four 20mm cannons instead of the original 7.7mm cannons, and was the most widely produced of all Raiden models.

      Subsequently, the J2M4 (Type 32) was equipped with an exhaust turbine supercharger, the J2M5 (Type 33) had a larger canopy and was fitted with a Kasei 26 engine, and the J2M6 ( Type 31) had a larger canopy but retained the same Kasei 23A engine as the Raiden 21 when the Kasei 26 was unavailable. A total of approximately 500 units were produced, and they played an active role in intercepting enemy bombers that were entering mainland Japan.
 

SpecificationsType 21 (J2M3)

• Crew: 1
  
• Wingspan: 10.795m
  
• Length: 9.7m
  
• Height: 3.81m
  
• Gross weight: 3,300kg
  
• Maximum speed: 596km/h
  
• Engine: Mitsubishi Kasei
  
• 23A Takeoff power: 1,820hp
  
• Armament: 4 x 20mm machine guns