FB19 MITSUBISHI J8M SHUSUI

The Mitsubishi J8M Shusui (another designation: Ki-200) was a Japanese monoplane rocket fighter from the Second World War. The drive was provided by a single engine Toko-Ro.2 (KR 10) . The flight of the prototype with rocket propulsion took place in July 1945. The machine never entered mass production. The deck armament consisted of two 30mm Type 5 or Ho-155 cannons. The very good performance of the German Me-163 Komet fighter prompted the Japanese authorities to purchase a license for this aircraft and attempt to produce it in Japan. However, the full technical documentation from Germany never reached this country, which extended the research work on the Mitsubishi J8M. The new fighter was primarily to protect Japanese cities from raids by American strategic bombers, as well as to be used in parallel with the Army's aviation (designation: Ki-200) and the navy (designation: J8M). Despite the unsuccessful test flights, which showed significant problems with the Toko-Ro.2 rocket engine, the machine was put into mass production, but due to the catastrophic state of the Japanese industry in the declining phase of World War II, only seven machines were produced.