1938, the Army, the same time as the issuance Prototype -43 against light, with an emphasis on speed, power increase, and performance dive time thought mercenaries were transferred to the tactics withdrawal blow high speed from the principle fighting against light Nakajima has issued instructions to -44 Prototype fast heavy fighter.
Is larger in diameter Nakajima select a high-output engine in order to satisfy the requirements of the Army, determined in (c) -41 with a maximum output at that time, the wing is the wing area for speed digit nose becomes thicker by this smaller on the edge, the trailing edge wing during takeoff and landing performance has been improved when air combat and employs a unique butterfly flap Nakajima.
Test results, to the poor stability at low speeds and poor visibility during takeoff and landing, the pilot was familiar with the Type 97 fighter puzzled reputation was not well.
However, in the performance comparison of tree and -60 Kawasaki and Bf-109E, because the way of the tree -44 was excellent, was named "Shoki" the informal name after the adoption Seishiki as a fighter monodentate formula two in 1942. Aircraft aircraft equipped with a leaf type -41 is a fighter two monodentate formula, with a more powerful engine (c) -109 was to distinguish between two types and two fighter monodentate formula.
In addition, the dimorphism is armed, there instep, B, C has due to differences in equipment, are produced machine 1,227 to fit each type between 1944 - 1940, the island working to intercept the bomber enemy for mission air defense was.
