AAM-4

AAM-4

The Mitsubishi AAM-4 (Type 99 air-to-air missile, 99式空対空誘導弾 (99 Shiki Kūtaikū Yūdōdan)) is a medium-range active radar homing air-to-air missile, considered as modern beyond-visual-range missile developed in Japan and intended to replace the semi-active radar homing AIM-7 Sparrow missile in service. It has been operational since 1999. The main contractor is Mitsubishi Electric.

Development

The improved AAM-4B was the world's first air-to-air missile with an AESA radar seeker.^[1] The AAM-4B entered production in 2010 for service on the F-15J and F-2,^[2] but it is too large to be carried in the weapons bay of the F-35 Lightning II.^[1] So on 17 July 2014 Japan announced a collaboration with the United Kingdom^[2] to study the development of a new Joint New Air-to-Air Missile (JNAAM). MBDA UK is prime contractor on the Meteor missile which entered service on the Saab JAS 39 Gripen in 2016 and on the Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale in 2018,^[3] and can fit in the internal weapons bay of the F-35.^[4] It has a unique variable-flow ramjet motor that according to MBDA gives the Meteor the largest no-escape zone of any air-to-air missile.^[5] The JNAAM will "[combine] the UK's missile-related technologies and Japanese seeker technologies",^[6] possibly with some adjustments to help the missile fit better in the F-35 weapons bay.

Variants

AAM-4B Prototype

• AAM-4 - Original version with 100 kilometres (62 mi) range that entered service in 1999.
• AAM-4B - Improved version introduced in 2010 with an AESA seeker and 120 km (75 mi) range.^[7]
• XRIM-4 - Naval surface-launched variant, project was previously canceled but effectively resurrected in 2016.^[8]
• Ducted rocket flying object - Throttleable Ducted Rocket (TDR) Test model.

Operators

 Japan

• Japan Air Self-Defense Force
  • F-15J Eagle
  • Mitsubishi F-2

Specifications

• Length: 3,667 mm
• Diameter: 203 mm
• Wing span: 800 mm
• Weight: 222 kilograms (489 lb)
• Guidance: inertial guidance, mid-course update + terminal active radar homing^[9][10]
• Range: 100 km (AAM-4), 120 km (AAM-4B^[11][12])
• Speed: Mach 4-5

See also

• AIM-120 AMRAAM
• AAM-1 (Japanese missile)
• AAM-2
• AAM-3
• AAM-5 (Japanese missile) - short range heatseeking missile introduced 2004

References

1. Mizokami, Kyle (28 January 2016). "Revealed: Japan's New Fighter Prototype". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
2. Perrett, Bradley (17 July 2014). "Japan, Britain To Collaborate On Meteor Guidance". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
3. Hoyle, Craig (16 June 2015). "PARIS: MBDA on target for Meteor introduction". Flight Global. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
4. "Japan, UK Announce Increased Defense And Security Cooperation". Defense News. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
5. "Meteor". MBDA Systems. 2016. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
6. "Japan reveals details of joint missile project with UK". janes.com. Retrieved 14 May 2016. citing a Japanese MoD spokesman
7. Japan Upgrading 60 F-2s With AAM-4, J/APG-2
8. JMSDF Resurecting XRIM-4 Naval Surface-Launched Variant of AAM-4 - Navyrecognition.com, 5 September 2016
9. FAS AAM4
10. Global Security AAM4
11. Japan Builds A Better AMRAAM
12. Japan Upgrades Air-to-Air

External links

• FAS AAM4
• Global Security AAM4