The Unknown Japanese Jets Of WW2

The question of whether Japan possessed jet aircraft during World War II is not as straightforward as one might assume.

Concept of Jet Planes

Japan’s interest in jet aircraft dates back to the mid-1930s when design bureaus and research centers began exploring the feasibility of jet propulsion.

For example, when the Soviet LaGG-3 came into their possession in 1939, they were completely unfazed by the design of the air intake.

The air that flows through the intake is compressed, and then heated by a radiator, after which the hot, pressurized air exited through the exhaust producing an additional thrust. They also noted the existence of a similar system on a captured P-51C.

The Katsudori

While large aircraft manufacturers approached jet development cautiously due to conservative military attitudes, smaller independent firms, like Kayaba, pursued experimentation.

Kayaba’s ramjet concept, known as Katsudori, bore similarities to Germany’s Me 163, featuring innovative design elements such as vertical stabilizers on the wingtips.

Despite promising progress, the Katsudori project was eventually abandoned in 1944 in favor of the Ki-200, Japan’s adaptation of Germany’s Komet rocket-powered aircraft.

A Matter of Perspective

Japan’s apparent lack of jet fighters during World War II can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the advantages of jet engines over propeller engines were not as evident during the 1940s, and early turbine technology posed significant manufacturing and maintenance challenges.

Moreover, Japan faced problems in metallurgy, mechanical engineering, and radio electronics, hindering its ability to rapidly develop jet aircraft.

Obtaining technical documentation and blueprints from Germany further delayed progress, as Japanese engineers sought to adapt designs to address specific challenges

Simply Too Late

Japan’s efforts culminated in the development of the Kikka, a jet-powered aircraft with notable modifications from its German counterparts.

The Japanese went with straight wings, ditching the Me 262’s slight sweepback, and replaced slotted flaps with more advanced split flaps.

However, by the time the Kikka took to the skies in mid-1945, it was a case of too little, too late. The war was nearing its end, rendering Japan’s jet aircraft developments largely inconsequential in the conflict’s outcome.