The Mitsubishi AAM-3 (Type 90 air-to-air missile, ) is a short-range
air-to-air missile
The newest and the oldest member of Rafael's Python family of AAM for comparisons, Python-5 (displayed lower-front) and Shafrir-1 (upper-back)
An air-to-air missile (AAM) is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying a ...
developed in Japan. It has been officially operated since 1991,
[J-Wing, ''Military aircraft of JASDF, F2''] and is expected to ultimately replace the US
AIM-9 Sidewinder
The AIM-9 Sidewinder (where "AIM" stands for "Air Intercept Missile") is a short-range air-to-air missile which entered service with the US Navy in 1956 and subsequently was adopted by the US Air Force in 1964. Since then the Sidewinder has prove ...
.
Operators
;
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Japan Air Self-Defense Force
The , , also informally referred to as the Japanese Air Force, is the air and space branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace, other air and space operations, cyberwarfare and electronic warf ...
**
F-15J Eagle
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Mitsubishi F-2
The Mitsubishi F-2 is a multirole fighter derived from the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, and manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Lockheed Martin for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, with a 60/40 split in manufacturing be ...
**
F-4EJ ''Kai''
Specifications
* Length: 3.1 m
* Diameter: 127 mm
* Weight: 91 kg
* Guidance:
Infrared homing
Infrared homing is a passive weapon guidance system which uses the infrared (IR) light emission from a target to track and follow it seamlessly. Missiles which use infrared seeking are often referred to as "heat-seekers" since infrared is rad ...
* Range: 13 km
* Speed: Mach 2.5
See also
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AAM-1
The Mitsubishi AAM-1 was a Japanese infrared homing air-to-air missile developed from the AIM-9B Sidewinder missile.
Operational history
Starting in 1969, the AAM-1 was produced by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with around 400 produced in tota ...
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AAM-2
The Mitsubishi AAM-2 was a Japanese prototype for a limited all aspect infrared homing air-to-air missile developed based on the American AIM-4D Falcon missile. It never reached production.
Development
In 1968, Japan selected a modified versi ...
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AAM-4
The Mitsubishi AAM-4 (Type 99 air-to-air missile, ) is a medium-range active radar homing air-to-air missile. It is a modern beyond-visual-range missile developed in Japan and intended to replace the semi-active radar homing AIM-7 Sparrow missile ...
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AAM-5 - replacement missile
References
* Duncan S. Lennox & Arthur Rees: ''Jane's Air-Launched Weapons'', Issue 5, Janes Information Group
* Keith Atkin: ''Jane's Electro-Optic Systems'', Sixth Edition 2000–2001, Janes Information Group
External links
AAM-3 auf Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.co.jp(eng)
AAM-3
Military equipment introduced in the 1990s
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