Mitsubishi J2M Raiden

Mitsubishi J2M Raiden
Country	Japan
Role	Fighter aircraft
Produced	1942–1945
Built	671

The Mitsubishi J2M Raiden was a single-engined land-based fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in World War II. The Allied reporting name was “Jack”. The J2M was designed by Jiro Horikoshi, creator of the A6M Zero, to meet the 14-Shi (14th year of the Showa reign, or 1939) official specification. It was to be a strictly 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 manoeuvrability. The J2M was a sleek, but stubby craft with its oversized Mitsubishi Kasei engine buried behind a long cowling, cooled by an intake fan and connected to the propeller with an extension shaft.

Source: Mitsubishi J2M Raiden on Wikipedia

Mitsubishi J2M Raiden (Allied name ‘Jack’) Walk Around
Photographer	Cees Hendriks
Localisation	Unknow
Photos	23

Mitsubishi J2M Raiden 01

Mitsubishi J2M Raiden 02

Mitsubishi J2M Raiden 03

Mitsubishi J2M Raiden 04

Mitsubishi J2M Raiden 05

Mitsubishi J2M Raiden 06

Mitsubishi J2M Raiden 07

Mitsubishi J2M Raiden 08

Mitsubishi J2M Raiden 09

Click on a photo and use the mouse scroll to view all photos

Wait, Searching Mitsubishi J2M Raiden photos for you…

The Anti-Zero

The Mitsubishi J2M Raiden (Allied codename: Jack) was a radical departure from the Japanese design philosophy of the early war. While the legendary Zero prioritized maneuverability and range, the Raiden was designed by Jiro Horikoshi to be a pure interceptor. It was built for speed, heavy armament, and a brutal climb rate to counter high-altitude American bombers like the B-29 Superfortress. Its “stubby” appearance came from the need to house a massive 1,800 hp engine inside a streamlined, low-drag airframe.

Attribute	Technical Specification (J2M3 Model 21)
Role	Land-Based Interceptor
Crew	1 (Pilot)
First Flight	March 20, 1942
Powerplant	1 × Mitsubishi MK4R-A Kasei 23a 14-cylinder radial
Horsepower	1,800 hp (1,342 kW)
Maximum Speed	365–417 mph (587–671 km/h)*
Climb Rate	6,000 m (19,685 ft) in 6 min 14 sec
Armament	4 × 20mm Type 99 cannons (2 in each wing)

*US post-war testing with high-octane fuel and methanol injection recorded the higher speeds.

A Muscle Car of the Skies

The “Long-Nose” Radial: To reduce the drag of the wide Kasei engine, Horikoshi placed it further back in the fuselage. A long extension shaft connected it to the propeller, allowing for a highly tapered, aerodynamic nose.
Forced Air Cooling: Because the engine was tucked so far back, it couldn’t rely on natural airflow. A specialized cooling fan was installed behind the propeller to blast air over the cylinders, a feature similar to the German Fw 190.
Laminar Flow Wings: The Raiden used advanced, thin-profile wings designed for high-speed efficiency. While this reduced agility compared to the Zero, it made the J2M one of the fastest Japanese fighters in a dive.
Combat Flaps: To regain some maneuverability, the J2M was equipped with “combat flaps” that could be partially extended during a dogfight to increase lift and allow for tighter turns.

B-29 Interceptor & The “Schräge Musik”

The B-29 Specialist: The Raiden was the most effective Japanese interceptor against the B-29 Superfortress. Its four 20mm cannons could shred a bomber’s wings, and its heavy armor protected the pilot from the B-29’s defensive fire.
Upward-Firing Cannons: Some J2M4 variants were fitted with two additional 20mm cannons mounted behind the cockpit, angled 70 degrees upward. This allowed the pilot to fly level beneath a B-29 and fire into its vulnerable belly.
Post-War Surprises: When US technicians tested captured Raidens using American 92-octane fuel and methanol injection, they were shocked to find the aircraft significantly faster and more powerful than intelligence reports had suggested.
Rare Survivor: Out of nearly 500 built, only one J2M3 survives today. It is currently on display at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California.