Kawasaki OH-1 Ninja【Kisarazu Yuzu】

[Thatz 637]

General OH-1 Information:
In the 1980's the JGSDF was starting to look for a new scout/observation helicopter that would replace the aging OH-6D's this replacement would be called the OH-X programme. Fuji, Mitsubishi and Kawasaki all submitted their proposals that would fulfill the requires of the programme, and in 1992 Kawasaki's design was selected as the winner of the programme and development commenced in October of that year.
In 1996, the OH-1 Ninja made its first flight, propelled by two Mitsubishi TS1-M-10 motors that were entirely produced in Japan. Japan decided to purchase 250 OH-1s in total, and the JGSDF would begin using them as early as 2000. The Ninja has heads-up displays, liquid crystal multi-function display panels, armoured seats, and cockpit glass that is also armoured. The reality that the hydraulic system in the entire helicopter has been doubled increases survivability even more. A visual camera, thermal sensors, and a laser rangefinder are all part of the sensor turret. The OH-1 is regarded as being incredibly agile because it can execute rolls and loops without the helicopter being overly stressed. There are four Type 91 air-to-air missiles on the OH-1.
Four Type 91 air-to-air missiles are installed on the OH-1 for self-defense. Unfortunately, the OH-1's manufacturing was slow and each unit was extremely expensive at 19 billion yen. These reasons led to the decision to stop OH-1 production in 2010 and have it supplement the OH-6D rather than supplant it. Due to this, only 38 units were produced in total, of which 37 are still in use by the JGSDF as of 2019. One of two OH-1s that experienced engine failures on the same day in 2015 crashed into the water. The OH-1 was subsequently grounded until lately, when it was cleared for use in flight missions as of March 2019.

History:

In 2011 to commemorate the 4th Anti-Tank Helicopter Squadron’s 19th Anniversary one of the squadron’s AH-1S’s was given distinctive markings with the original character Aoi Kisarzu which was created by the squadron personnel. The following year (2012) Illustrator Takashi Fujisawa got onboard with the project and created the designs for Kisarazu Yuzu and the other sisters.
 

By 2013 there were a total of 4 sisters:

Kisarazu Akane (eldest, First Lieutenant)
Kisarazu Aoi (second, Second Lieutenant)
Kisarazu Wakana (third, Leading Private)
Kisarazu Yuzu (youngest)

In 2011 the cost for the markings was ¥150,000 but in 2012 the price doubled to over ¥300,000. The money to cover the costs was raised by donations as well as the selling of character merch.

These sisters gained a lot of popularity in person as well online however higher ups in the JSDF were not happy with them and in 2013 the higher ups stopped the project.

This particular helicopter has lived on in the form of a model kit
 

Spoiler

Specs:
Crew: 2
Total length - 13.4m
Height - 3.8m
Overall width - 11.6m
Engines: 2 ×  Mitsubishi TS1-M-10, 884 SHP (659 kW)
Top speed: 270km/h

Armament:
4x Type 91/Type 91 Kai air-to-air missiles

Even though the helicopter would only have Air to Air I think it could be helpful to keep the skies clear in mixed battles

Pictures:

Spoiler

 

Videos:

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Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawasaki_OH-1
https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.php?aircraft_id=993
https://otakei.otakuma.net/archives/2013052101.html
http://www.military-today.com/helicopters/kawasaki_oh1.htm
https://rikuzi-chousadan.com/soubihin/koukuuki/oh-1.html
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/OH-1
https://otakumode.com/news/51a149bf8ccdf39e1300d1e4/The-Four-Sisters-of-the-Fourth-Anti-Tank-Helicopter-Squad-are-Celebrated-One-Last-Time!

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10561855

 

More information on the OH-1 can be found here:

 

[leroyonly 4,311]

Open for discussion. 

[DMYEugen 688]

With regsrds to the OH-1 in general, +1 as a squadron vehicle or as an off-shoot from the main helicopter line. It's is a service vehicle, however, its use would be very limited in-game. For that reason, I think that it should not be added in a way that hinders researching the more versatile helicopters and thus should be completely optional to research.

 

With regards to this specific example of the OH-1, tentative +1 since the only logical place for it is as a premium or event vehicle. Neither option is appealing due to the limitations. Definite +1 as a skin though.

Edited March 29, 2023 by DMYEugen

[Godvana 533]

It always seemed really strange to me that Japan never armed these with ATGMs.

[Thatz 637]

1 hour ago, Godvana said:

It always seemed really strange to me that Japan never armed these with ATGMs.

There was a proposed version called the AH-2 but it wasn't accepted in favor of the AH-64

[Epsilon160 270]

AH-2 or something similar was also considered for the NAH program to replace the AH-1s but there's a good chance that program isn't happening anymore since Japan decided to retire most of their attack and observation helicopter fleet in favor of drones.

 

This is a page from an article about the planned AH-2 features (when it was competing with the AH-64), it was republished in a magazine that I forgot the name of.

Spoiler

 

Edited March 29, 2023 by Epsilon160

[Thatz 637]

2 hours ago, Epsilon160 said:

AH-2 or something similar was also considered for the NAH program to replace the AH-1s but there's a good chance that program isn't happening anymore since Japan decided to retire most of their attack and observation helicopter fleet in favor of drones.

 

This is a page from an article about the planned AH-2 features (when it was competing with the AH-64), it was republished in a magazine that I forgot the name of.

Reveal hidden contents

 

yeah... I think alot of countries will start going the way of drones as a future replacement for helicopters

[Nacho5944 181]

If they fix the Type 91's this could serve as a pretty potent heli hunter in the future, +1

[皇帝大河様の前に一礼 3]

In my opinion they could add scouting and artillery to the OH-1, but I am really not sure as to how artillery would work gameplay wise and if it would be overpowered or not.

[Fireraid233 4,274]

11 hours ago, Epsilon160 said:

AH-2 or something similar was also considered for the NAH program to replace the AH-1s but there's a good chance that program isn't happening anymore since Japan decided to retire most of their attack and observation helicopter fleet in favor of drones.

 

This is a page from an article about the planned AH-2 features (when it was competing with the AH-64), it was republished in a magazine that I forgot the name of.

Reveal hidden contents

 

While it's a stretch and not seen favorable in the community maybe the proposed AH-2 can be added at some point since we have things like F-16AJ?

Edited March 29, 2023 by Fireraid233

[Epsilon160 270]

 

1 hour ago, Fireraid233 said:

While it's a stretch and not seen favorable in the community maybe the proposed AH-2 can be added at some point since we have things like F-16AJ?

The engine may have existed, as there is an OH-1 engine upgrade document from a while ago, but there's no proof that the Type 96 was adapted for use on an airborne platform (at least none that I can find, although I can only read English sources). Not to mention the major airframe changes. While I don't think it's completely off the table when compared to some things that have been added recently, I think it's more of a stretch than the F-16AJ. Would definitely be a nice little piece of tech if they were willing to add it though, built to be pretty quiet and all. Not too much info on the Type 96, either it'd be IIR or fiber optic guided, both of which are pretty good gameplay wise.

 

An upgraded OH-1 engine, 880hp per engine on original to 1260hp. Even if the AH-2 isn't added this would be a nice addition to a base OH-1.

Spoiler

Edited March 29, 2023 by Epsilon160

[Lord_Prism 1,827]

2 hours ago, Fireraid233 said:

While it's a stretch and not seen favorable in the community maybe the proposed AH-2 can be added at some point since we have things like F-16AJ?

TBH I've always liked the look of the OH-1, and having the AH-2 in game isnt too much of a stretch

[Milocat 4,857]

+1, would like to see this added to the game as a vehicle or at least a skin.

[Hronomant 182]

On 30/03/2023 at 01:07, Fireraid233 said:

While it's a stretch and not seen favorable in the community maybe the proposed AH-2 can be added at some point since we have things like F-16AJ?

I think that it would not even be very paper-based. I found information that at the time the project was closed, sluggish work was already underway to manufacture a prototype, although I did not find details, except for the mention of the manufacture of a sample of a 5-blade propeller from special composite materials, and the manufacture of a prototype engine (XTS-2), whose photographs are not so long ago even hit the net:

Spoiler

All of its weapon systems, from the 20 mm gun to the Type 96 MPMS, existed and were adopted by the armament, therefore there will not even need to invent something. Perhaps the only fundamental problem for this helicopter is the sufficiently high "toxicity" of the Type 96 MPMS for the current random, and the lack of information on APS, which I assume should have been there.

In addition, Japan will not have another "top" helicopter given the already well-known information about the rejection of attack helicopters. There are options of like the SH-60K / SH-60L, which, although equipped with quite good soft-kill measures active protection systems, but it is limited up to 4 Hellfire's. The upgrade plan for the UH-60J, which would have allowed it to carry at least 8 hellfire's with the same APC soft-kill advantages as naval helicopters, was canceled in 2008 due to financial constraints. In theory, it is possible that the line of helicopters can be continued with drones, which will help close the niche of the missing top-end helicopters, without a cringe similar to the F-16 (for example like Eurocopter that took part in the Japanese attack helicopter tender), but these are already pure fantasies.

Edited March 31, 2023 by Hronomant