Kawasaki Ki-96 Japanese Heavy Fighter

Developed from the Kawasaki Ki-45, the Ki-96 was a single-seat, twin engined heavy fighter designed for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service. Originally envisaged as a two-seat fighter, the Army requested a change to single-seat. The first of three prototypes therefore had a larger canopy than the final two, as it was already being built when the change was made.

First flying in September 1943, the Ki-96 demonstrated performance above that predicted. Despite this it was not ordered into production as the Army had again changed its requirements back to a two-seat version. Development of the Ki-96 was halted and a new design incorporating the wings and tail unit of the Ki-96, the Ki-102 was commenced.