Mixed feelings when seeing an F-16-lookalike as successor to some unique types. Hiko Kaihatsu Jikkendan, the test & evaluation unit, kept this prototype as a testbed at Gifu.

The F-2 program, which ended in Sept 2011, was controversial because the unit cost was roughly four times that of the F-16 on which it was based. This is despite a 40/60% cost sharing split between the USA and Japan. An impressive machine to see anyway