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The A6M and KI-43 were both premier designs for their time, but much like the RLM, the Japanese high-command did not place a high priority on suitable replacements until the situation became dire.
Towards the end of the Pacific War, the Japanese had several types that were on a par or better than what the Allies were fielding at the time.
However, as was the case with the Luftwaffe: too little, too late...
The A6M and KI-43 were both premier designs for their time, but much like the RLM, the Japanese high-command did not place a high priority on suitable replacements until the situation became dire.
Towards the end of the Pacific War, the Japanese had several types that were on a par or better than what the Allies were fielding at the time.
However, as was the case with the Luftwaffe: too little, too late...
Japanese expansion would have happened if the main fighter of the IJN was a hot air balloon.
The Hayabusa came out roughly same time as the Zero so the IJN would have had a comparable fighter of some type.
By 1941 the Zero was not good and was no match for any modern 109 or Spitfire or Fw 190. You don't need a jet fighter when the enemy has Brewster Buffalos.
Do you think Japan would have the nerve to undertake its campaign of December 1941 if it had to rely on the A5M Claude as its naval fighter? The Zero-21 was the only single-engined fighter in the world that had the range to fly from Formosa to Luzon, fight and return. If the Phillipines were to be taken without the Zero, the front-line carriers would have had to provide the A5Ms to support the campaign. That would have meant no Pearl Harbor attack, and the main US Pacific Fleet would have been untouched.
Afaik was very successful vs soviet fighters, at time of lapland war the 239 saw limited serviceThe Brewster 239 (Buffalo) was very successful against the bf-109 in the hands of the Finns. .