In 1935, the IJA held competition between Nakajima, Mitsubishi and Kawasaki, to design a monoplane army fighter to replace Ki-10 biplane. Three planes emerged from this competition, the Ki-27, Ki-28, and Ki-33. The IJA chose this plane for its outstanding agility and low wing loading. It was accepted into service in 1937. The plane first saw combat in China, fighting agianst Chinese I-16 fighters and Khalkin Gol against russian fighters. It got outperformed from the latest and better I-16 fighters and were useless in Khalkin Gol. The plane also saw combat against American warplanes such as the Warhawk, Mustang and Lightning. It would later fight in the Pacific where they would face the formidable Hellcat and Corsair where the plane will be obselete and as an act of desperation by the Japanese.