How the US Navy tried to turn a land-based jet into a carrier fighter

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Desperate to match Soviet swept-wing fighters during the Korean War, the US Navy attempted to navalize the iconic F-86 Sabre. The resulting FJ-2 Fury was a compromise that struggled with carrier landings, eventually finding a home with the Marine Corps before being superseded by the more capable FJ-3.

By 1951, the US Navy faced a performance gap. Its straight-wing fighters were outclassed by the Soviet MiG-15, and next-generation swept-wing designs were not yet ready for service. As an interim solution, the Bureau of Aeronautics ordered the development of the FJ-2, a navalized version of the North American F-86E Sabre. The conversion required significant structural changes, including folding wings, a reinforced nose landing gear to handle carrier impacts, and an arrester hook. Despite these modifications, the FJ-2 added about 1,100 pounds of weight compared to the F-86F and failed to achieve the low-speed handling characteristics required for reliable carrier operations.

The FJ-2’s carrier trials on the USS Midway and USS Coral Sea in 1952 proved disappointing. The aircraft suffered from poor low-speed performance, and its landing gear often struggled under the stress of carrier decks. Consequently, the Navy relegated the 200 produced FJ-2s to land-based Marine Corps squadrons. The type was short-lived in front-line service, disappearing by 1956 and being fully retired by reserve units in 1957. The Navy ultimately preferred the lighter, more maneuverable Grumman F9F Cougar for its carrier needs.

The program found greater success with the FJ-3, which replaced the J47 engine with the more powerful Wright J65 turbojet. First flying in 1953, the FJ-3 featured a deeper air intake and, from 1955, a redesigned '6-3' wing that improved maneuverability. While the J65 engine initially faced reliability issues, the FJ-3 was considered a superior aircraft, eventually becoming the first fighter to land on the supercarrier USS Forrestal in 1956. A total of 538 FJ-3s were built, with some later variants capable of carrying AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles or serving as control aircraft for drones and Regulus missiles.

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