In 1938, as the Japanese Army's military doctrine shifted from light fighter dogfighting to a high-speed, "hit-and-run" strategy, the Army simultaneously ordered Nakajima to develop the Ki-44 high-speed heavy fighter. This order was placed around the same time as the prototype order for the Ki-43 light fighter. The Ki-44 was designed to prioritize speed, climb rate, and dive performance.
To meet the Army's demands, Nakajima chose the powerful Ha-41 engine, which had a large diameter but the highest output of its time. This decision resulted in a thick fuselage. To achieve high speed, the wings were made exceptionally small, and a unique butterfly-style flap was added to the trailing edge to improve performance during combat and takeoff/landing.
Initial test results were mixed. Pilots, accustomed to the Type 97 Fighter, were confused by the poor visibility during takeoff and landing and the aircraft's instability at low speeds. The plane was not well-received. However, when compared to the Bf-109E and the Kawasaki Ki-60, the Ki-44 proved superior.
As a result, it was formally adopted in 1942 as the Type 2 Single-Seat Fighter, and was later nicknamed "Shoki" (Demon).
Aircraft equipped with the Ha-41 engine were designated Type 2 Single-Seat Fighter Model I, while those with the more powerful Ha-109 engine were designated Type 2 Single-Seat Fighter Model II. The Model II had further variants—Ko, Otsu, and Hei—based on differences in armament and equipment. Between 1940 and 1944, a total of 1,227 aircraft of all variants were produced. They were primarily used for air defense, successfully intercepting enemy bombers.
Specifications:
- Crew: 1
- Wingspan: 9.448m
- Length: 8.843m
- Height: 3.248m (horizontal)
- Loaded Weight: 2,764kg
- Maximum Speed: 605 km/h at 5,200m altitude
- Cruising Speed: 400 km/h at 4,000m altitude
- Engine: Ha-109
- Takeoff Power: 1,520 hp
Armament:
- 2 x 12.7mm machine guns (fuselage)
- 2 x 40mm cannons (wings)
- 2 x 30-100kg bombs