| abstract | - The first production model was the Kawasaki Ki-61-I Hien, which had a 1,180 hp Kawasaki Ha-40 engine capable of propelling the Ki-61 at speeds of up to 592 km/h. The Ki-61 had a wingspan of about 10 meters and a height of 3.7 meters. The total weight of the Ki-61 was 2,210 kg and it was about 8.8 meters long while the service ceiling of the Kawasaki was about 10,000 meters. The armament of the Ki-61 consisted of four 12.7mm MGs and the capability to carry two 249.4 kg bombs. It had a fuel capacity of about 365 liters and it had a maximum range of about 1,100 kilometers. Although, additional fuel could be carried in external drop tanks. The name Hien meant swallow and it was also classified by Imperial Japan as a Type 3 fighter. It was the only water-cooled aircraft to enter service into Imperial Japan's Airforce. The Ki-61 was codenamed "Tony" by allied forces because of the - incorrect - belief that it had come from Italian designs, although it did take some concepts from German designs.
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