Kikka

Kikka

N1K2-Ja

F-86F-30 ▅

Kikka

N1K2-Ja

F-86F-30 ▅

Japan

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
7.0	7.0	6.7

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Research:82 000

Purchase:240 000

Show in game

Description

The Kikka is the first Japanese jet and was a land-based attack plane developed by Nakajima for the IJNAS to attack US warships at high speed and close range with bombs. Taking inspiration from German jet development and advancement, the Kikka, contrary to common belief, was completely domestic in development and role for Japanese needs. Construction of the Kikka was simplified to allow unskilled labor and mass produce the jet plane to build up a large reserve of homeland defense and strike at American vessels. With the war ending, two prototypes were tested, 23 more proto-frames were under construction, and production halted.

In War Thunder, the Kikka is a fast and versatile fighter-bomber introduced in Update 1.43. It starts with a single 30 mm which can be modified with the 'otsu' mod equipping the second 30 mm. It is crucial to utilize speed, as that is its most significant advantage against most aircraft it encounters. While it can be loaded with up to 800 kg of bombs, it slows the jet down massively due to the added weight, which is not advisable for air combat; against naval and ground targets, it is crucial to dive in at high speed to come in and out while evading anti-air fire with speed.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 0 m875 km/h

Turn time22 s

Max altitude12 500 m

Engine2 х Nakajima Ne-20

TypeJet

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight5 t

Characteristics	Max speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	855	842	12500	22.7	23.5	23.1	22.3	750
Upgraded	894	875		21.8	22.0	29.1	26.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
✓	✓	✓	X	X	X

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
980	380	558	529	380	~11	~5

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 590	< 590	< 650	N/A

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Empty mass	Wing loading (full fuel, no boosters)
Nakajima Ne-20		2	2,440 kg	228 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load, no boosters)			Max Takeoff Weight
Weight (each)	Type		7m fuel	20m fuel	23m fuel
470 kg	Axial-flow turbojet		2,654 kg	2,951 kg	3,020 kg	5,000 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (106%, no booster)
Condition	100%	106%	7m fuel	20m fuel	23m fuel	MTOW
Stationary	572 kgf	650 kgf	0.49	0.44	0.43	0.26
Optimal	572 kgf (0 km/h)	650 kgf (0 km/h)	0.49	0.44	0.43	0.26

Booster (Solid-fuel rocket)						Aircraft mass
Number	Booster weight (each)	Fuel weight (each)	Burn Time	Can be shutdown	Jettisoned after use	Mass with full booster fuel (no weapons load)
						7m fuel	20m fuel	23m fuel
2	50 kg	350 kg	6s	No	Yes	3,454 kg	3,751 kg	3,820 kg
Condition		Maximum booster thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB)		Combined engine & booster thrust @ 0 m		Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100% with booster)
						7m fuel	20m fuel	23m fuel
Stationary		816 kgf		‭2,932‬ kgf		0.85	0.78	0.77
Optimal		816 kgf (any speed)		‭2,932‬ kgf (0 km/h)		0.85	0.78	0.77

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural980 km/h

Gear380 km/h

• 70 mm Bulletproof glass - Armoured windscreen
• 12.7 mm Steel plates in front of front fuel tank
• 12.7 mm Steel plate behind the pilot
• 12.7 mm Steel plate behind the rear fuel tank

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB2 931 → 4 405

RB7 465 → 11 219

SB11 128 → 16 725

Total cost of modifications72 300

118 200

Talisman cost1 900

Crew training68 000

Experts240 000

Aces1 400

Research Aces620 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

130 / 310 / 600 %

184 / 184 / 184 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 4 800 Cost: 7 800 175 Engine Research: 5 300 Cost: 8 600 195 Wings repair Research: 18 000 Cost: 29 000 660	Airframe Research: 5 300 Cost: 8 600 195 Cover Research: 12 000 Cost: 20 000 440	Otsu mod. Research: 4 800 Cost: 7 800 175 14 in (mod. 41) Research: 4 800 Cost: 7 800 175 type5_belt_pack Research: 5 300 Cost: 8 600 195 type5_new_gun Research: 12 000 Cost: 20 000 440

• Otsu mod. allows the installation of a second 30 mm cannon

Due to the lacklustre firepower while stock, Kikka pilots should prioritize unlocking the Otsu mod 30 mm belts as soon as possible. Therefore, research 800 kg bomb first to unlock the link for Otsu mod at rank 3 modification, then research the ammunition belt for better chance at dealing damage, and finally the Otsu mod itself. After this, you can either upgrade the flight performance or additional gun upgrades depending on your preference.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Kikka is armed with:

• A choice between two presets:
  • 1 x 30 mm Type 5 cannon, nose-mounted (50 rpg)
  • 2 x 30 mm Type 5 cannon, nose-mounted (50 rpg = 100 total)

Suspended armament

The Kikka can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 1 x 500 kg Navy Type Number 50 Model 2 bomb (500 kg total)
• 1 x 800 kg Navy Type Number 80 Model 1 bomb (800 kg total)

Usage in battles

The Kikka has a good acceleration rate for its BR, as well as climb rate, and low top speed compared to later jets. The pilot is quite heavily protected from the front and rear by both armour, and the fuel tanks are self sealing. The (wing mounted) engines, on the other hand, take damage easily, and minor damage to them will further slow the plane to speeds that some props can match.

Its 30 mm guns have a low rate of fire and low ammo count, but are very powerful and can down fighters with a few solid shots. The stock belt is lacking and it is recommended to research and use the tracer belt (HEF-T). There are no AP rounds, the closest thing being the "practice" shell, merely an unfilled HE shell. Strafing is discouraged as the guns simply arent a threat to anything but open-topped vehicles.

Inside the cockpit of the Kikka

The Kikka should be played as a Boom & Zoomer. It has a great roll rate so it can still catch enemies that attempt to dodge it. Many pursuers can be outrun by going into a slight dive, and rolling to avoid enemy fire. Super props like the P-51H-5NA can catch the Kikka in certain situations, though the Kikka's top maintainable speed is much higher than theirs.

To attempt to gain the upper hand on a Kikka, propeller planes should dive from at least 2,000 m above the Kikka to be able to catch it. If the Kikka goes into a tight turn fight, it will generally bleed its energy, making it an easy target to be defeated by prop planes, which is usually the case when a jet attempt to engage a prop in a turnfight.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Early jet fighter that can frequently see prop aircraft
• Can carry either a heavy 800 kg or a 500 kg bomb
• Can use flaps at high speeds (roughly 550 km/h = 341 mph)
• Good at diving as long as it has enough performance modules
• 30 mm cannons are hard hitters
• Good climb rate and vertical performance
• Great energy retention
• Good roll rate
• Exceptional cockpit visibility to the sides/rear

Cons:

• Limited ammo, only 50 shells per gun
• Somewhat poor turn rate
• Only one 30 mm gun when stock
• Adding payload will hinder handling significantly due to the planes light weight and small size
• Slow if compared to later jets
• Prop planes will out turn you
• Cockpit visibility to the front is noticeably obstructed, with an extremely crude sight in the form of a stick

History

The second test flight of the Kikka - 11th August 1945.

The Nakajima Kikka was Japan's first entirely turbojet-powered aircraft, designed as a cheap and fast special attack plane for envisioned decisive battles in the defense of Japan. Whilst a general resemblance can be seen to the German Me 262 Schwalbe, this is only due to superficial characteristics such as the under-wing engine nacelles and roughly triangular fuselage. In terms of detailed structural design, the two are not directly related.

The Japanese were not able to receive all of the information that was provided through a negotiation on 1944 with the German high command over the licensing for the BMW 003 and Junkers Jumo 004 turbojet engines. Examples and plans were lost with the sinking of submarines that carried the important cargo, however all was not completely lost. A single BMW 003A diagram was saved as it was flown in to Japan separate from the submarine I-29. Upon further inspection of the BMW 003A diagram, the Japanese designers were able to garner enough information in compound with their previous developments to lay out the plans of more feasible turbojets.

This plane is sometimes incorrectly identified in IJN designation as J9N or J9Y, but, like all other Japanese "special attack" (suicide) planes, it was only given the formal name of Kikka ("橘花"). It was formerly called "Kōkoku Nigō Heiki" (興国二号兵器, "Prospering Country Mk.2 Weapon")

The Ne-20 engine that powered the Kikka

Work began on newer engine designs. Ultimately the Kūgishō Ne-20 engine was the one selected which was a Japanese design based on the format of the BMW 003A. The Kikka was developed as a special attack plane to attack vessels from invading fleets. The airframe was simple to mass-produce, and the engines could operate on low-grade fuels. The armament consisted of only a single 500 or 800 kg bomb. However, the prototype aircraft would not fly until August 7th 1945, by which time the Japanese were rapidly running out of time. It would attempt flight again on August 11th 1945, but was heavily damaged during an aborted takeoff due to trouble with the RATO units. That would be the last time the aircraft would fly again as just days later, the surrender of Japan was broadcast over the radio, signalling the end of the Kikka development.

A fighter variant for intercepting B-29s with improved Ne-20 Kai engines and two Type 5 30 mm cannons was under development during 1945, but the war ended before there was a prospect of completing it.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Kikka from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

Realistic: Kikka [Valuable Lessons] - Jengar

The Shooting Range #14 - Pages of History section at 06:16 discusses the Me 262 and the Kikka.

See also

• Me 262 (Family)

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance
• [Aviation of Word War II] J8N Kitsuka
• [SENSHA blog] Japan's First Jet Plane  · [Part 1]  · [Part 2]  · [Part 3]

Japan jet aircraft
IJNAS
Experimental	Kikka
Reconnaissance	R2Y2 Kai V1 · R2Y2 Kai V2 · R2Y2 Kai V3
IJAAS
Fighters	Ki-200
JASDF
Fighters	F-86F-30 ▅ · F-86F-40 ▅ · F-86F-40 JASDF▅
	F-104J
	F-4EJ Phantom II · F-4EJ ADTW · F-4EJ Kai Phantom II
	F-15J · F-15J(M)
	F-16AJ
	F-1
Trainers	T-2 Early · T-2
Foreign
Thailand	▄AV-8S · ▄F-5E FCU