Fletcher/Toyo FD-25 Defender

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Hello! today I will introduce an aircraft that is the closest to a COIN aircraft Japan can receive

Short History
Designed by John Thorp and manufactured by Fletcher Aviation Corporation the FD-25 Defender was a light attack COIN aircraft advertise to the U.S army in the early 1950s. 2 versions were made the FD-25A duel seat and FD-25B single seat, the FD-25A was crashed during flight trials in 1952 killing several Fletcher employees while the “B” version was flown successfully. However sales to the U.S failed and the Fletcher company sold the manufacturing rights, and sale rights to the Japanese Toyo Air Industry company. From there the FD-25 was now property of the Toyo company and an FD-25 was sent to Japan to help with design and tooling. Toyo made both the FD-25A and B versions with both being able to be armed, In Japan Toyo built around a dozen of these aircraft and sold both versions to Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Royal Thai Air force.

Shipment of FD-25A to Japan
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Domestically produced FD-25B
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In Game
In War Thunder this could be a decent low tier attacker for Japan to bring in ground battles and help with the need for CAS aircraft throughout the tiers.

Specifications
General characteristics

  • Crew: (B) 1, (A) 2
  • Length: 20 ft 11 in (6.38 m)
  • Wingspan: 30 ft 0 in (9.14 m)
  • Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
  • Wing area: 150 sq ft (14 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 6:1
  • Airfoil: NACA 65.5-415
  • Empty weight: 1,228 lb (557 kg)
  • Gross weight: 2,500 lb (1,134 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 60 US gal (50 imp gal; 230 L)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Continental E-2258 6-cylinder, air-cooled, horizontally-opposed piston engine, 225 hp (168 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 187 mph (301 km/h, 162 kn) at sea level
  • Cruise speed: 162 mph (261 km/h, 141 kn)
  • Range: 630 mi (1,010 km, 550 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 16,500 ft (5,000 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,725 ft/min (8.76 m/s)

The aircraft is armed with various rockets, and bombs which I will list below

  • 2 x Browning 30 cal. in wings 1000 rpg
  • 2 x 250 lb bombs
  • 2 x 40 gal Napalm tanks
  • 8 x 127mm HVAR
  • 40 x 70mm Rocket
  • 32 x 8cm Oerlikon Rockets
Spoiler

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Japanese versions are the exact same specifications and are seen with hard points thus armament should be the same
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Sources

Spoiler

https://www.aerospace.co.nz/aircraft/heritage-aircraft/fletcher-fu-25-defender
Fletcher FD-25 (Defender) COunter-INsurgency (COIN) Aircraft
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9 Likes

+1

Japan really needs Attack & COIN aircraft

Also here is a potential Skin that the FD-25 could get

Spoiler

3 Likes

+1

For Light Attack Aircraft in japan.

2 Likes

I’m offering more skins, which are stationed in each country.

Royal Khmer Aviation
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Royal Thai Police

It’s for premium skin

4 Likes

This would be a SUPER fun aircraft with a TON of ground attack capabilities! Plus it would bring a lot of new and interesting stuff to the table for Japan. +1

3 Likes

YES PLEASE, Japan is in dire need of such CAS. It’s a basically a mini somewhat slow bomber/strike aircraft.

2 Likes

Usually i’m not a fan of COIN aircraft but this one seems interesting. Could work like the Firecrest in the British TT +1

1 Like