Kawasaki Ki-102

The Kawasaki Ki-102 was a twin-engine, two-seat, long-range heavy fighter developed as a successor to the Ki-45 Toryū. The design encompassed three distinct models: the Ki-102 Kō day fighter, the Ki-102 B ground-attack, and the Ki-102 C night fighter. The Allies assigned it the reporting name "Randy".

Design and history

Although the Ki-102 was introduced into service in 1944, its operational deployment was limited. The primary variant, the Ki-102 B, was primarily held in reserve for homeland defense but did take part in the Battle of Okinawa. Additionally, it was designated as a potential platform for launching the Ki-148 air-to-surface guided missile in anticipation of an Allied invasion.

Variants

Ki-102

Three prototype units constructed.

Ki-102 A (kō/甲)

This version closely resembled the Ki-102 B but incorporated turbosuperchargers to sustain engine performance at elevated altitudes; it replaced the 57 mm cannon with a 37 mm variant and eliminated the rear 12.7 mm machine gun, with 26 aircraft produced.

Ki-102 B (otsu/乙)

A ground-attack model featuring an updated tail wheel design, with a total of 207 built.

Ki-102 C (hei/丙)

Designed as a night fighter, this variant had an extended fuselage and wingspan, was outfitted with radar housed in a Plexiglas dome, and included obliquely mounted 20 mm cannons. It substituted belly-mounted guns for 30 mm cannons arranged in a Schräge Musik configuration behind the cockpit; two units were manufactured.

Ki-108

A high-altitude fighter prototype derived from the Ki-102 B, it featured a pressurized cockpit and structural enhancements adapted from the Ki-102 C.

Ki-108 Kai

An improved iteration of the Ki-108 with an elongated fuselage and enlarged wingspan; two examples were completed.