The
Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" is a long-range
fighter aircraft, manufactured by
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and operated by the
Imperial Japanese Navy from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was designated as the , or the Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen. The A6M was usually referred to by its pilots as the "Reisen" (zero fighter), "0" being the last digit of the
Imperial year 2600 (1940) when it entered service with the Imperial Navy. The official
Allied reporting name was "
Zeke", although the use of the name "Zero" was later commonly adopted by the
Allies as well.