Mitsubishi MK9A

The Mitsubishi Ha-43, known as the Ha-211 by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAF) and MK9 by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS)), was a Japanese 18-cylinder, twin-row air-cooled radial engine developed during World War II. It was a more powerful derivative of Mitsubishi's 14-cylinder Kinsei. While planned for use in several promising aircraft, only prototypes were made and the engine never saw combat.

Design and development

The Ha-43 was Mitsubishi's answer to Nakajima's Ha-45. The engine was planned to produce while retaining high reliability and a superior power-to-weight ratio compared to contemporary engines in its class. The frontal area per hp. was also intended to be the smallest in the world. However, such ambitious targets necessitated extraordinary efforts and ingenuity at the same time.

At the time, Mitsubishi was working to promote a different engine, the Ha-42 (an 18-cylinder derivative of the Kasei), development of which was prioritized above the Ha-43's, delaying its completion. Consequently, the Ha-45 entered service first, albeit plagued with reliability issues, which would also trouble the Ha-43. Numerous promising aircraft, such as the Kyushu J7W interceptor and Mitsubishi's own A7M ''Reppu'' fighter, were planned to use the Ha-43, but in the end, such aircraft did not see service before Japan's surrender, nor did the engine itself.

Variants and designations

''Data from:'' Japanese Aero-Engines 1910-1945
;A20: Company designation
;Ha-211: IJAAF designation
;MK9: IJNAS designation
;Ha-43: Unified (IJAAF and IJNAS) designation system

Applications

* Kawanishi N1K5-J (project; not built)
* Kyushu J7W1
* Mansyū Ki-98
* Mitsubishi A7M2/A7M3
* Mitsubishi J4M
* Mitsubishi Ki-83

Specifications (Ha-43/Ha-211/MK9)

See also

References

{{Imperial Japanese Navy aeroengines

Ha43
Aircraft air-cooled radial piston engines
1940s aircraft piston engines