The following is a list of aircraft of the

Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service The was the Naval aviation, air arm of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). The organization was responsible for the operation of naval aircraft and the conduct of aerial warfare in the Pacific War. The Japanese military acquired their first air ...

from its inception in 1912 until its dissolution in 1945.

World War I

''Adopted prior to 1918''

Bombers

Farman MF.11 The Maurice Farman MF.11 ''Shorthorn'' is a French aircraft developed before World War I by the Farman Aviation Works. It was used as a reconnaissance and light bomber during the early part of World War I, later being relegated to training duti ...

1914 Ship-based light bomber floatplane

Reconnaissance and liaison

Farman MF.7 Longhorn The Maurice Farman MF.7 ''Longhorn'' is a French biplane developed before World War I which was used for reconnaissance by both the French and British air services in the early stages of the war before being relegated to service as a trainer. D ...

1913 light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft *Yokosho Ro-gō Kō-gata 1918 reconnaissance seaplane

Interwar

''Adopted between 1918 and 1937''

Fighters

Gloster Sparrowhawk The Gloster Sparrowhawk was a single-seat fighter aircraft designed and produced during the early 1920s by the British aircraft manufacturer Gloster. It was developed by aircraft designer Henry Folland, who had recently joined Gloster after t ...

1921 carrier-borne biplane fighter *

Mitsubishi 1MF The Mitsubishi 1MF was a Japanese carrier fighter aircraft of the 1920s. Designed for the Mitsubishi Aircraft Company by the British aircraft designer Herbert Smith, the 1MF, also known as the Navy Type 10 Carrier Fighter was operated by the ...

1923 carrier-borne biplane fighter (Type 10 Fighter) * Nakajima A1N 1930 carrier-borne biplane fighter * Nakajima A2N 1932 carrier-borne biplane fighter * Nakajima A4N 1935 carrier-borne biplane fighter * Mitsubishi A5M ''Claude'' 1935 Navy carrier-based fighter

Bombers

* Mitsubishi 1MT 1922 carrier torpedo bomber * Mitsubishi B1M 1923 carrier torpedo bomber *

Mitsubishi B2M The Mitsubishi B2M was a Japanese carrier-based torpedo bomber of the 1920s and 1930s. It was built by Mitsubishi to a design by Blackburn Aircraft of Britain and was operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. Design and development In 1927, the ...

1932 carrier torpedo bomber * Kugisho B3Y 1932 carrier torpedo bomber * Mitsubishi G3M ''Nell'' 1934 Navy land-based bomber *

Aichi D1A The Aichi D1A or Navy Type 94/96 Carrier Bomber ( Allied reporting name "Susie") was a Japanese carrier-based dive bomber of the 1930s. A single-engine, two-seat biplane based on the Heinkel He 50, the D1A was produced by Aichi for the Imperia ...

''Susie'' 1934 Navy carrier

dive bomber A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb it drops. Diving towards the target simplifies the bomb's trajectory and allows the pilot to keep visual contact througho ...

* Yokosuka B4Y ''Jean'' 1935 biplane torpedo bomber

Reconnaissance and liaison

Mitsubishi 2MR The Mitsubishi 2MR was a Japanese carrier-based reconnaissance aircraft of the 1920s, also known as the Navy Type 10 Carrier Reconnaissance Aircraft or the C1M in the Navy's short designation scheme.Kyushu K10W The Kyushu K10W Type 2 Land based intermediate trainer (Code Named ''Oak'' by the Allies) was a single engine low wing fixed undercarriage monoplane training aircraft which served in the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in the latter part of Wo ...

''Oak'' Type 2 intermediate trainer. *

Mitsubishi K3M The was a trainer built by Mitsubishi which was used by the Imperial Japanese Navy in an extremely wide variety of roles, including light transport, liaison aircraft, utility aircraft and occasionally light bomber. Its Allied reporting na ...

''Pine'' 1930 naval crew trainer.

Transports

* Hitachi LXG1 1934 (Liaison and communication)

Flying boats and seaplanes

Yokosuka E1Y The Yokosuka E1Y was a Japanese floatplane of the 1920s. A single-engined biplane that was designed and developed by the Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal as a reconnaissance aircraft for the Imperial Japanese Navy, 320 were built as the Type ...

1926 reconnaissance seaplane *Hiro H1H 1926 flying boat *

Nakajima E2N The Nakajima E2N was a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft of the inter-war years. It was a single-engine, two-seat, sesquiplane seaplane with twin main floats. Design and development The E2N was developed in the 1920s for the Imperial Japanese ...

1929 reconnaissance seaplane *Hiro H2H 1929 flying boat * Aichi E3A 1930 reconnaissance seaplane *

Nakajima E4N The Nakajima E4N was a Japanese shipboard reconnaissance aircraft of the 1930s. It was a two-seat, single-engine, equal-span biplane seaplane used primarily by the Imperial Japanese Navy. Development The first prototype of the Type 90-2 Reconna ...

1930 reconnaissance seaplane *

Yokosuka E5Y is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. , the city has a population of 409,478, and a population density of . The total area is . Yokosuka is the 11th most populous city in the Greater Tokyo Area, and the 12th in the Kantō region. The city ...

1930 reconnaissance seaplane *

Kawanishi H3K The Kawanishi H3K, also known as Navy Type 90-2 Flying Boat (九〇式二号飛行艇), was a Japanese biplane military flying boat from the interwar period. The H3K was a development of the Short S.8/8 Rangoon. The first of the H3Ks was built ...

1932 flying boat *

Kawanishi E5K Kawanishi may refer to: Places * Kawanishi, Hyōgo * Kawanishi, Nara * Kawanishi, Yamagata * Kawanishi, Niigata – now merged into Tōkamachi People with the surname *, Japanese painter *, Japanese swimmer *, Japanese idol Other uses * Kawanishi ...

1932 reconnaissance seaplane * Yokosuka E6Y 1932 submarine based floatplane *

Kawanishi E7K The Kawanishi E7K was a Japanese three-seat reconnaissance seaplane mainly in use during the 1930s. It was allocated the reporting name Alf by the Allies of World War II. Design and development In 1932 the Imperial Japanese Navy requested the K ...

''Alf'' 1933 reconnaissance seaplane *

Hiro H4H The Hiro H4H (or Hiro Navy Type 91 Flying Boat) was a 1930s Japanese bomber or reconnaissance monoplane flying boat designed and built by the Hiro Naval Arsenal for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Design and development First appearing in 1931 the H ...

1933 flying boat *

Nakajima E8N The Nakajima E8N was a Japanese ship-borne, catapult-launched, reconnaissance seaplane of the Second Sino-Japanese War. It was a single-engine, two-seat biplane with a central main-float and underwing outriggers. During the Pacific War, it was k ...

''Dave'' 1934 reconnaissance seaplane *

Kawanishi H6K The Kawanishi H6K was an Imperial Japanese Navy flying boat produced by the Kawanishi Aircraft Company and used during World War II for maritime patrol duties. The Allied reporting name for the type was Mavis; the Navy designation was . Design ...

''Mavis'' 1936 recon. flying boat; formerly - Navy Type 97 Flying Boat * Mitsubishi F1M ''Pete'' 1936 observation seaplane * Yokosuka H5Y ''Cherry'' 1936 flying boat *

Aichi E10A The Aichi E10A was a Japanese night reconnaissance flying boat of the 1930s. A single-engined biplane, 15 were built for the Imperial Japanese Navy as the Type 96 Night Reconnaissance Seaplane, serving from 1936 but were retired in 1941 before th ...

1936 reconnaissance flying boat

World War II

Second Sino-Japanese War The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) or War of Resistance (Chinese term) was a military conflict that was primarily waged between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. The war made up the Chinese theater of the wider Pacific Th ...

Pacific War The Pacific War, sometimes called the Asia–Pacific War, was the theater of World War II that was fought in Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and Oceania. It was geographically the largest theater of the war, including the vast ...

, and

China-Burma-India theatre China Burma India Theater (CBI) was the United States military designation during World War II for the China and Southeast Asian or India–Burma (IBT) theaters. Operational command of Allied forces (including U.S. forces) in the CBI was offic ...

Fighters

Mitsubishi A6M Zero The Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" is a long-range carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft formerly manufactured by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and was operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 19 ...

零戦 "Reisen" ''Zeke'' 1939 Navy carrier fighter (type 0), the "Zero" *

Mitsubishi A7M The Mitsubishi A7M ''Reppū'' (烈風, "Strong Wind") was designed as the successor to the Imperial Japanese Navy's A6M Zero, with development beginning in 1942. Performance objectives were to achieve superior speed, climb, diving, and armament o ...

烈風 "Reppu" ''Sam'' 1944 Navy carrier-based fighter *

Seversky A8V1 Type S Two Seat Fighter In the late 1930s, Seversky aircraft exported twenty two-seat 2PA-B3 to Japan for operational service by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service as the A8V1 Type S Two Seat Fighter. The aircraft were imported as a result of Japanese anxiety ove ...

Late 1930s Two-seat Seversky P-35 * Nakajima J1N 月光 "Gekko" ''Irving'' 1941 Navy land-based night fighter * Mitsubishi J2M 雷電 "Raiden" ''Jack'' 1942 Navy land-based interceptor *

Nakajima J5N The Nakajima J5N was an abandoned Japanese prototype fighter aircraft of the World War II era. J5N was developed as twin-engine interceptor for countering attacks by Boeing B-29 Superfortress. Design and development During the spring of 1943 ...

天雷 "Tenrai" 1944 Navy land-based interceptor * Kyushu J7W 震電 "Shinden" 1945 Navy interceptor * Mitsubishi J8M1 秋水 "Shusui" 1945 Rocket interceptor based on the

Messerschmitt Me 163 The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet is a rocket-powered interceptor aircraft primarily designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Messerschmitt. It is the only operational rocket-powered fighter aircraft in history as well as th ...

, for Army

Mitsubishi Ki-200 The Mitsubishi J8M ''Shūsui'' (Japanese: 三菱 J8M 秋水, literally "Autumn Water", used as a poetic term meaning "Sharp Sword" deriving from the swishing sound of a sword) was a Japanese World War II rocket-powered interceptor aircraft close ...

and Navy * Mitsubishi J8M2 秋水改 "Shusui-kai" Rocket interceptor, Navy version of Army Mitsubishi Ki-202 * Nakajima J9Y 橘花 "Kikka" 1945 Experimental Navy jet-powered fighter. *

Kawanishi N1K-J The Kawanishi N1K ''Kyōfū'' (, "Strong Wind", Allied reporting name "Rex") is an Imperial Japanese Navy floatplane fighter. The Kawanishi N1K-J ''Shiden'' (, "Violet Lightning") was an Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service land-based version of ...

紫電 "Shiden" 1942 Navy ground-based derivative of the N1K * Kawanishi P1Y2-S 極光 1944 Navy night-fighter derivative of the Yokosuka P1Y * Aichi S1A 電光 "Denko" 1945 Navy night fighter

Bombers

Mitsubishi B5M The Mitsubishi B5M was an Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) land-based attack aircraft, originally intended for carrier use. The B5M was also given the long formal designation and Allied reporting name of Mabel. The B5M was designed ...

''Mabel'' 1937 Navy carrier torpedo bomber * Nakajima B5N ''Kate'' 1937 Navy carrier torpedo bomber * Aichi D3A ''Val'' 1938 Navy carrier dive bomber * Mitsubishi G4M ''Betty'' 1939 Navy land-based bomber * Yokosuka D4Y 彗星 "Suisei" ''Judy'' 1940 dive bomber * Nakajima B6N 天山 "Tenzan" ''Jill'' 1941 Navy torpedo bomber *

Aichi B7A The was a large and powerful carrier-borne torpedo-dive bomber produced by Aichi Kokuki for the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service during the Second World War. Built in only small numbers and deprived of the aircraft carriers it was intended ...

流星 "Ryusei" ''Grace'' 1942 Navy carrier torpedo bomber *

Kyushu Q1W The Kyūshū Q1W ''Tokai'' (東海 "Eastern Sea") was a land-based anti-submarine patrol bomber aircraft developed for the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II. The Allied reporting name was ''Lorna''. Although similar in appearance to the Ge ...

東海 "Tokai" ''Lorna'' 1943 Navy anti-submarine patrol bomber * Yokosuka P1Y 銀河 "Ginga" ''Frances'' 1943 medium bomber * Nakajima G8N 連山 "Renzan" ''Rita'' 1944 Navy long-range heavy bomber *

Tachikawa Ki-74 The Tachikawa Ki-74 ( Allied reporting name "Patsy") was a Japanese experimental long-range reconnaissance bomber of World War II. A twin-engine, mid-wing monoplane, it was developed for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service but never deployed ...

''Patsy'' 1944 bomber, reconnaissance

Reconnaissance and liaison

* Mitsubishi C5M 1937 ''Babs'' reconnaissance aircraft * Nakajima C6N 彩雲 "Saiun" ''Myrt'' 1943 Navy reconnaissance plane * Yokosuka R2Y 景雲 "Keiun" 1945 reconnaissance

Transports

2/4-L 1938 (Transport

Flying boat A flying boat is a type of fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a floatplane in that a flying boat's fuselage is purpose-designed for floatation and contains a hull, while floatplanes rely on fusela ...

) *Kawanishi H6K3 1939 (Transport Flying boat) *

Kawanishi H8K The Kawanishi H8K was a flying boat used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service during World War II for maritime patrol duties. The Allied reporting name for the type was "Emily". The Kawanishi H8K was a large, four-engine aircraft designed ...

2-L Seiku (Transport version of H8K) *

Kawanishi E11K The Kawanishi E11K was a Japanese flying boat of the 1930s. It was designed as a night reconnaissance aircraft for the Imperial Japanese Navy, but was not accepted, the two aircraft built being used as transports as the Type 96 Transport Flying B ...

1 (Merchant Transport Hydroplane) *

3-L "Pine" (Light Transport) * Mitsubishi L3Y1/2 (Armed Transport) * Mitsubishi G6M1/2-L (Armed Transport) *

Mitsubishi L4M The Mitsubishi Ki-57 was a Japanese passenger transport aircraft, developed from the Ki-21 bomber, during the early 1940s. Development In 1938, when the Ki-21 heavy bomber began to enter service with the Imperial Japanese Army, its capability ...

1 (Personnel Transport) * Nakajima C2N1 (Light transport) * Nakajima L1N1 (Personnel Transport) *

Nakajima G5N The Nakajima G5N ''Shinzan'' (, "Deep Mountain") was a four-engined long-range heavy bomber designed and built for the Imperial Japanese Navy prior to World War II. The Navy designation was "Experimental 13-Shi Attack Bomber"; the Allied code name ...

2-L

Shinzan Shinzan (シンザン; 2 April 1961 – 13 July 1996) was a thoroughbred racehorse that won the Japanese Triple Crown. Background Shinzan was a bay horse bred by Yoshimatsu Matsuhashi. He was sired by Irish Derby winner Hindostan. His dam ...

"Liz" (Merchant transport) *Nihon L7P1 (Light amphibious transport) *Showa/ Nakajima L2D2 "Tabby" (Merchants and Personnel Transport) *

Yokosuka H5Y1 The Yokosuka H5Y (short designation) or Yokosuka Navy Type 99 Flying Boat Model 11 (九九式飛行艇, ''99shiki hikōtei'') (long designation), given the allied code name Cherry, was an IJNAS flying boat in service from 1938. Design and devel ...

"Cherry" (Transport Hydroplane) *

Kyushu K10W The Kyushu K10W Type 2 Land based intermediate trainer (Code Named ''Oak'' by the Allies) was a single engine low wing fixed undercarriage monoplane training aircraft which served in the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in the latter part of Wo ...

11 "Oak" (liaison and Communications) * Nakajima A4N1 (liaisons) * Aichi E13A1 "Jake" (liaisons and officer transport)

Flying boats and seaplanes

Aichi E11A The Aichi E11A (九八夜偵, ''Kyū-hachi Yatei'') was an Imperial Japanese Navy flying boat used during the first year of World War II for maritime patrol duties. The Allied reporting name for the type was "Laura"; the Japanese Navy designation ...

''Laura'' 1937 reconnaissance

flying boat A flying boat is a type of fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a floatplane in that a flying boat's fuselage is purpose-designed for floatation and contains a hull, while floatplanes rely on fusela ...

* Yokosuka E14Y ''Glenn'' 1939 submarine based floatplane * Aichi E13A ''Jake'' 1940 *

Aichi H9A The Aichi H9A (二式練習飛行艇, Navy Type 2 Training Flying Boat) was an Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service flying boat used during the first years of World War II for crew training. An uncommon type, it was not encountered by Allied for ...

1940 *

''Emily'' 1941 Flying Boat * Kawanishi H8K2-L 晴空 "Seiku" ''Emily'' Flying Boat *

Kawanishi E15K The Kawanishi E15K ''Shiun'' (紫雲, " Violet Cloud") was a single-engined Japanese reconnaissance floatplane of World War II. The Allied reporting name for the type was "Norm" after Squadron Leader Norman O. Clappison of the RAAF, a member of ...

紫雲 "Shiun" ''Norm'' 1941 reconnaissance seaplane * Kawanishi N1K 強風 "Kyofu" ''Rex'' 1942 floatplane fighter *

Aichi E16A The Aichi E16A ''Zuiun'' (瑞雲 "Auspicious Cloud", Allied reporting name "Paul") was a two-seat reconnaissance seaplane operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Design and development The Aichi E16A originated from a 1939 s ...

瑞雲 "Zuiun" ''Paul'' 1942 reconnaissance seaplane *

Nakajima A6M2-N The Nakajima A6M2-N (Navy Type 2 Interceptor/Fighter-Bomber) was a single-crew floatplane based on the Mitsubishi A6M Zero Model 11. The Allied reporting name for the aircraft was Rufe. Design and development The A6M2-N floatplane was develo ...

''Rufe'' 1942 Mitsubishi Zero floatplane version *

Aichi M6A The is a submarine-launched attack floatplane designed for the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. It was intended to operate from I-400 class submarines whose original mission was to conduct aerial attacks against the United States. D ...

晴嵐 "Seiran" 1943 submarine-based seaplane

Purpose-built special attack aircraft

Yokosuka MXY7 The Yokosuka MXY-7 was a purpose-built, rocket-powered human-guided ''kamikaze'' attack aircraft employed by Japan against Allied ships towards the end of the Pacific War during World War II. Although extremely fast, the very short range of th ...

桜花 "Ohka" ''Baka'' 1944 manned flying bomb

World War I

Bombers

Reconnaissance and liaison

Interwar

Fighters

Bombers

Reconnaissance and liaison

Transports

Flying boats and seaplanes

World War II

Fighters

Bombers

Reconnaissance and liaison

Transports

Flying boats and seaplanes

Purpose-built special attack aircraft

See also