Towards the end of last April, officials from Japan’s Ministry of Defense hinted to local media that the future sixth-generation GCAP fighter of the Air Self-Defense Force might be named F-3 Reppu, which has sparked various criticisms within Japanese society for evoking memories of past militarism. The name in question had been selected to be carried by the A7M aircraft designed by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II as the successor to the legendary A6M Zero, though it never entered full service.
The news was reported by Kyodo, which claims to have interviewed several defense officials familiar with the GCAP program who confirmed the information, although the decision has not yet been finalized and is still under internal consideration. The designation F-3, it states, follows more conventional rules corresponding to the type of aircraft. The letter “F” is used because the new aircraft is a fighter, while the number 3 would be assigned based on the order of development—it would be the successor to the current F-2 model used by the Air Self-Defense Force and manufactured by Mitsubishi.
On the other hand, reviewing briefly the history of the aforementioned A7M aircraft, it should be noted that development began in 1942, intended to improve the performance and weaponry of the A6M Zero fighter, which was becoming outdated compared to the American F4U Corsair and F6F Hellcat fighters in the Pacific. By 1944, Mitsubishi had built its first flying prototype, the A7M1, although its characteristics (mainly due to the underperforming Nakajima NK9K Homare 22 engine) failed to convince the Imperial Navy as a worthy replacement for the Zero.
This did not halt development, however, and a second variant was launched, designated A7M2, equipped with a more powerful Mitsubishi MK9A engine and more advanced combat flaps that improved maneuverability. Records show that five prototypes of this version were built, with the first flight occurring in October 1944, reigniting the Navy’s interest. As a result, plans were made to proceed with the A7M3 variant for mass production, but by then, Japan’s industrial capabilities had been severely degraded by American bombing raids, and the aircraft never entered active service.
Finally, regarding the GCAP program as a whole, it is worth noting that choosing a name is the least of the current challenges faced in deploying the aircraft by the middle of the next decade. As reported last April, the program partners are facing disagreements on how to proceed, with Italy accusing the United Kingdom of withholding key technologies needed to advance the fighter’s design. Furthermore, the potential entry of Saudi Arabia into the project to provide financial support remains under dispute, as the country is not believed to have the techno-industrial capacity to contribute on par with the other partners, leading to resistance in London.
*Images used for illustrative purposes only.
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