Excellent unmanned suggestions folks. But, before those concepts, back to the meat-puppet variants ... First, an overview of the SuperCat lineage.
A Summary of Eastern SuperCat Variants
FM-3 - Refined FM-2 Wildcat with all-around vision bubble canopy
- XFM-3: Prototype conversion from 'ridge-backed' Eastern FM-2 airframe
- FM-3 : 1,350 hp Wright R-1820-62 Cyclone, effectively 'bubbled' FM-2
- FM-3A: 1,350 hp Wright R-1820-62, minor internal equipment changes
- FM-3A: Mid-production switch to water injected 1,350 hp R-1820-72W
- FM-3B: [Project] Water-injected R-1820-74W engine, redesignated FM-5
FM-4 - [Project] Planned variant with 1,500 hp P&W R-1860-20W Super Hornet*
- XFM-4: Sole prototype (created from FM-2 Wildcat components), abandoned
-- * Fan-cooled engine, 4-bladed Aeroproducts propeller with large spinner
FM-5 - Intended as improved, more powerful FM-3A Wildcat variants
- FM-5 : [Project] 1,425 hp water-injected Wright R-1820-74W Cyclone radial
-- FM-5 production abandoned when BuAer redirected '-74W engines to Ryan
- FM-5A: Production version with minor differences from late-model FM-3As
- FM-5A(FN): 'French Navy', postwar export designation, French radio fit
- FM-5B: [Project] Lightweight FM-5A (small R/T, etc.), cancelled at VJ
- FM-5C: [Project] Similar to FM-5B, wing-root life raft store, cancelled
- FM-5D: [Project] FM-5A 2-seat trainer, aka FM-5DC, designation reassigned
- FM-5D: [Project] Fan-cooled Wright R-1820-84W, spinner, cancelled at VJ
- FM-5E: Postwar conversion to better-suite FM-5A for use by USN Reserves*
-- * FM-E lightened/reduced armour to allow for electric gear retraction
-- NB: Contrary to widespread reports, the 'E' in FM-5E wasn't for Export
- FM-5F: [Project] Designation held for potential British-engined variant
-- 'FM-5F': Unofficial French designation for the postwar export FM-5A(FN)
- FM-5K: Post-war drone conversion of FM-3A/FM-5A, unmanned aerial targets
- FM-5N: [Project] Radar-equipped night fighter derivative of FM-5A
-- XFM-5N: 'NightCat' prototype (FM-3A conversion), non-folding wings
- FM-5P: Photo-reconnaissance production-line conversion of FM-5A airframes
- FM-5Z: 'Z' for Administrative, cover designation for postwar flying bombs
-- FM-5Z-1: 1945 FM-3A conversion to unmanned decoy/flying bomb (500 lb HE)
-- FM-5Z-2: 1946 pilot-optional FM-5A unmanned decoy/flying bomb conversion
-- FM-5Z-3: [Project] Pilotless conversion variant, no details recorded
-- FM-5Z-4: 1949 FM-5E conversion to unmanned decoy/flying bomb (1,000 lb HE)
FM-6 - The FM-6 series designation was applied to two, unrelated concepts
- FM-6 : [Project] FM-3A derivative with 4 x 20 mm cannons, not ordered
- XFM-6: 'Whale Shark' FM-3 conversion, GE TG-100 turboprop trials aircraft
- NB: Proposed 'Turbine-Propeller Escort Fighter' received no designation
FM-7 - Cover designation for flying-bomb conversions of F3F-4 and FM-1
- FM-7: Also known by another cover designation, 'glide-bomb' LBM-1
FM-8 - Cover designation for flying-bomb conversions of FM-2 airframes
- FM-8: Also known by another cover designation, 'glide-bomb' LBM-2
F2M - [Project] Higher-powered, 'bubble-topped' photo-recon development
- XF2M : Prototype FM-2 conversion, 1 x P&W R-2000-1 twin-row, abandoned
- F2M-1: Planned production version, 1,450 hp P&W R-2000-2, not ordered
F3M - Original USN designation for the 'bubble-topped' FM-2 derivative
XF3M - Prototype conversion redesignated as XFM-3 before work completed
F4M - [Project] Eastern Aircraft production version of F8F-1 Bearcat
- XF4M : Construction begun, work on XF6M halted shortly after VJ Day
- F4M-1: Planned production version, as F8F-1 except for minor details
F5M - [Project] Rocket-powered fleet defence interceptor, not ordered
- XF5M-1: 'KamiCat' anti-kamikaze prototype, flown only as a glider
- F5M-1 : Not ordered, rocket engine unready, original concept flawed
F6M-1 - [Project] 'EscortCat', FM-5A replacement based on F4M Bearcat
- F6M (I) : Original concept, lightened F4M airframe with R-1820-72W
- F6M (II): Revised concept incorporating larger-area FM-5A wings