Funryu

Funryu (奮龍) was a series of surface-to-air anti-aircraft missiles developed in Japan at the end of the Second World War. During the missile's development in the late stages of the war, it was plagued by organisational problems and was cancelled before becoming operational.

In 1945, it was created and tested a few samples SAM Funryu, but in connection with the surrender of the Japanese Empire's work had not been completed. All the developments on the complex were destroyed after the end of hostilities.

The first was the Funryu 1 and the design was an air-to-surface missile (ASM) whose specific role was anti-shipping. Funryu 1 was much like a miniature airplane. The warhead contained 8821b of explosive and guidance was via radio control. Testing of the Funryu 1 was conducted with the missile being dropped from a modified Mitsubishi G4M bomber. However, it was seen that the means to effectively control the missile in flight would require a significant amount of time to perfect and with the increase in US bombing raids against Japan, it was decided that efforts should be directed towards sur – face-to-air missiles (SAMs). Thus, the Funryu 1 was shelved and was to be the only ASM of the Funryu family.

Two more advanced versions were called the Funryu 2 and the Funryu 4. The Funryu 2 was solid-fueled, 7.9 feet long, had a diameter of 12 inches and weighed about 815 pounds. The Funryu 4 was liquid-fueled, 13.1 feet long, had a diameter of 24 inches and weighed about 4,190 pounds.

Funryu4, which strongly resembled the Mitsubishi J8M (with swept wings and elevons) would be guided primarily under radio control from the ground. The operator would fly the Primary version of missile Funryu2 into the vicinity of the bombers, then cut the engine and let it glide. Funryu4 was high-speed designs that could be flown directly at their target along the line of sight, easy enough to do even from the ground.

As the power plant decided to use the KR-20 rocket engine thrust to 1500 kgf with a fuel reserve of 5 minutes of work. The same engine to be used on the rocket fighter J8M1. Since the thrust of the engine is less than the starting weight of the rocket, the launch was supposed to carry out a 45 ° angle to the horizon, and climb to a great extent had to be due to aerodynamic forces.

The control system has radio command to the original single-channel transmission system commands. Basic pulse signal frequency was 1000 Hz, with a division into groups. After every 200 pulses there is a brief pause. The combination of these five groups according to the duration of pulses and 200 was set commands: up, down, right, left, and explosion. Target tracking and missile intended to carry out visually, by optical means, as well as radar. The team at undermining the projectile was issued automatically when the radar signal reflected from the target coincides with the signal reflected from the SAM. Such a control system, in general, coincide with some modern systems.

In accordance with this project in the arsenal of Nagasaki was made a prototype "Funryu 4" rockets bench tests which began (and then ended) August 16, 1945, that is already the day after the end of hostilities.

Shortly thereafter, the soldiers with dynamite destroyed all equipment associated with the program "Funryu" so that did not get anything in the hands of the Americans, it would be associated with these missiles.