Ki-108 Kai

Ki-108 Kai

Ki-102 otsu

J2M2

360://https://wiki.warthunder.com/images/1/1d/Cockpit_ki_108.jpg

Ki-108 Kai

Ki-102 otsu

J2M2

Japan

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.7	3.7	3.3

Class:

Fighter

Interceptor

Research:18 000

Purchase:47 000

Show in game

Description

The Ki-108 Kai is a rank III Japanese twin-engine fighter with a battle rating of 3.7 (AB/RB) and 3.3 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.77 "Advancing Storm".

General info

Flight performance

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 8,000 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	597	580	13000	22.1	22.9	8.4	8.4	600
Upgraded	649	622		20.4	21.0	16.9	12.1

Details

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

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
0	310	460	460	260	~10	~7

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 360	< 400	< 400	> 312

Survivability and armour

• 12 mm Steel - Pilot's headrest
• 12 mm Steel - Pilot's backrest

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Ki-108 Kai is armed with:

• 1 x 37 mm Ho-204 cannon, nose-mounted (35 rpg)
• 2 x 20 mm Ho-5 cannons, chin-mounted (200 rpg = 400 total)

Usage in battles

The Ki-108's assets are its excellent guns (especially the 37 mm Ho-204 with its quick rate of fire; the 20mm are unimpressive but will give you a chance to finish a wounded enemy), its climbing speed, and its fairly good manoeuvrability for a plane with so much firepower. Its main weakness is its engine vulnerability. Use the climb rate and speed to engage bombers from the front or front-side, down or cripple, disengage to reload, climb back and repeat. Do not engage bombers from behind as even a B-18A or B-34 has a good chance of crippling you with its tail gunners. Fighters climbing towards you are reasonably easy prey, but try to avoid confrontations where you do not have an altitude advantage, as your dogfighting ability is low and your escape speed is unimpressive if you don't start with a strong advantage. Overall, a fantastic interceptor at its battle rating, good enough to regularly score Survivor awards.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Controllable Auto control available	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Separate	Not controllable 1 gear	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Radiator		Offensive 20 mm
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 20 mm cannons
III	Wings repair	Engine		New 37 mm cannons
IV		Engine injection	Cover

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Powerful armaments
• Decent climbrate

Cons:

• Serious overheating issues even without WEP
• The 37 mm are inaccurate even once upgraded
• Low ammo counts; require trigger discipline
• Poor roll rates at low and high speeds
• Highly flammable

History

Development of the Ki-108 began in April 1943 after Kawasaki wanted to fulfil a standing requirement with the Japanese Army for a heavy interceptor that initially began with the Ki-45 heavy fighter series. The Ki-108's design was derived mostly from the previous Ki-102 project and took some elements of the Ki-96 as well, effectively combining the two designs into one. After the first B-29 Superfortress bombers made their appearance over the Japanese home islands, the need for such a high-altitude interceptor became even more emphasized. Two Ki-102 otsu airframes were taken from the assembly line in 1944 to produce the initial Ki-108 prototypes. Compared to the Ki-102, which was intended as a low-altitude attack aircraft, the Ki-108 was an interceptor meant for high altitude operations. To allow for this, the Ki-108's cockpit had to be significantly reduced in size and was to be hermetically sealed. This effectively turned the Ki-108 into a single-seater, reduced weight and decreased the strain on the engines all at the same time, which allowed for better performance at higher altitudes.

The two initial prototypes were completed in July and August 1944, respectively. An improved version of the Ki-108 was designed based around the Ki-102 Hei, featuring a wider wingspan and a longer fuselage, in an effort to improve high-altitude handling. Two examples of the Ki-108 Kai variant were built and subsequently tested in 1945. However, the worsening war situation for Japan prematurely concluded testing of the type and both versions never left prototype stage, yet alone seeing combat. A total of four Ki-108s were manufactured between 1944 - 1945.

- From Devblog

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• [Devblog] Kawasaki Ki-108: The Final Dragon Slayer
• Military Factory - Kawasaki Ki-108

Japan twin-engine fighters and strike aircraft
Navy
Land-based Fighter
J1N	J1N1
J5N	J5N1
Army
Ki-45	Ki-45 ko · Ki-45 otsu · Ki-45 hei · Ki-45 tei
Ki-83	Ki-83
Ki-96	Ki-96
Ki-102	Ki-102 otsu
Ki-108	Ki-108 Kai
Ki-109	Ki-109