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. It is a 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. The 2010 AAM-4B was the world's first air-to-air missile with an AESA radar seeker.

The AAM-4 is too large to fit in the internal weapons bay of the F-35 Lightning II. This has led to a program with MBDA UK to adapt the latest AAM-4 seeker technology to MBDA's Meteor missile airframe to produce the JNAAM.

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] 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-4 – Original version with 100 km (62 mi) range that entered service in 1999.
• AAM-4B – Improved version introduced in 2010 with a Ka band millimetric frequency AESA seeker ^[7] and 120 km (75 mi) range. ^[8] The seeker also utilized to the Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile.
• XRIM-4 – Naval surface-launched variant, project was previously canceled but effectively resurrected in 2016. ^[9]
• 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 kg (489 lb)
• Guidance: inertial guidance, mid-course update + terminal active radar homing ^{[10] [11]}
• Range: 100 km (AAM-4), 120 km (AAM-4B ^{[12] [13]})
• Speed: Mach 4–5

See also

• AAM-1 – (Japan)
• AAM-2 – (Japan)
• AAM-3 – (Japan)
• AAM-5 – (Japan) – short range heatseeking missile introduced 2004
• AIM-120 AMRAAM – (United States)
• Sky Sword II – (Taiwan)
• Meteor (missile) – (France, United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden)
• PL-12 – (China)
• PL-15 – (China)
• R-77 – (Russia)

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to JASDF Type 99 (AAM).

External links

• FAS AAM4 Archived 24 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine
• Global Security AAM4