PLAY
Aviation
Ki-44-I
II
Rank
AB
2.7
RB
2.7
SB
2.3
Battle rating
Japan
Game nation
Fighter
Main role
7,900
RP
Research
10,000
SL
Purchase
Imperial Japan
Operator country
General information

The Ki-44-I, designated as the Type 2 Single-Seat Fighter, Model I (二式単座戦闘機一型) was developed alongside the lighter Ki-43 and the twin-engined Ki-45 in response to Western aircraft with retractable landing gear, such as the German Bf 109 and the British Spitfire, which were introduced shortly after the Japanese deployment of the Ki-27 in 1937. While the Ki-43-I was designed as an agile, machine-gun-armed fighter, the Ki-44 was intended to be a heavier, faster, cannon-armed single-seat aircraft, with the Ki-45 ko serving as a long-range twin-engine aircraft to complement these planes. During its development and service, many Japanese aviators were opposed to the concept of a heavier single-engine aircraft that sacrificed agility for other factors. These doctrinal clashes were temporarily quelled by the tactics employed by the Soviet Air Force during the Nomonhan Incident, where the I-16 outperformed Japanese pilots using hit-and-run tactics and faster aircraft. Nakajima, tasked with developing all three aircraft, had little experience with "heavy" planes, resulting in the Ki-44 being lighter than a Bf 109, yet still valuable due to its high speed and formidable firepower. It even outperformed the Japanese-imported Bf 109 E-7 in some aspects, despite its poor visibility and high landing speed requirements. The Ki-44 entered service in 1941, but many veteran Japanese pilots continued to dislike the aircraft, even though it achieved some successes in its smaller numbers.

While the Ki-44 might seem less appealing to Japanese aviators compared to the Army's Ki-43 or the Navy's A6M, it remains a fairly nimble aircraft that simply requires a different strategy. Boom-and-zoom tactics are key to the Ki-44's success; with its more powerful engine and increased firepower, the pilot should climb and dive on targets for maximum effect, regaining altitude for subsequent attacks. Although the Ki-44 is agile enough to change tactics or manoeuvres on the fly, pilots should note that it isn't as nimble as the previously mentioned aircraft.


Camouflages:

Flight performance
Max speed
at 6,000 m 558521580539 km/h
Rate of Climb 21.618.724.918.8 m/s
Turn time 16.518.115.617.4 s
Max altitude 9,800 m
Takeoff Run 190 m

Combat
flaps
Take-off
flaps
Landing
flaps
Air
brake
General characteristics
Crew 1 person
Gross weight 2.5 t
Engine Nakajima Ha-41
Length 8.9 m
Wingspan 9.4 m

Limits:
Max Speed Limit (IAS) 850 km/h
Mach Number Limit 1
Flap Speed Limit (IAS) 250 km/h
Gear Speed Limit (IAS) 250 km/h
Offensive armament
2 × 12.7 mm Ho-103 machine gun
Ammunition 500 rounds
Fire rate 900 shots/min

BeltBelt fillingArmor penetration (mm) at a distance:
10 m100 m500 m1000 m1500 m2000 m
AP-T/AP/HEF-I211913743
AP-T/AP/HEF-I211913743
AP-T/HEF-I/HEF-I/HEF-I211913743
AP-T/AP/AP-T211913743
AP/HEF-I/HEF-I/HEF-I211913743
2 × 7.7 mm Type 89 machine gun
Ammunition 1,000 rounds
Fire rate 900 shots/min

BeltBelt fillingArmor penetration (mm) at a distance:
10 m100 m500 m1000 m1500 m2000 m
T/AP/IAI/AP/I13127320
T/AP/IAI/AP13127320
T/T/T/AP13127320
I/AP/AP/AP/IAI13127320
Economy
Repair cost Basic → Reference
AB 354 → 448 SL
RB 724 → 917 SL
SB 952 → 1,205 SL
Crew training 3,000 SL
Experts 10,000 SL
Aces 125 GE
Research Aces 160,000 RP
Reward multiplier AB / RB / SB
20 / 60 / 120 % SL
112 % RP
Total cost of modifications 6,930 RP
6,750 SL
Talisman cost 530 GE


Flight performance
Survivability
Weaponry
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