The Mitsubishi A6M Zero, also known simply as the Zero, was a long-range carrier-based fighter aircraft manufactured by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) from 1940 to 1945.

The A6M was one of the most important and iconic aircraft of World War II. It was a highly maneuverable and long-range fighter aircraft that was very successful in the early part of the war. However, it had several weaknesses, including a lack of armor and self-sealing fuel tanks, which made it vulnerable to damage later in the war.