- Yes
- No
AAM-4 (99式空対空誘導弾)
The AAM-4 is a Japanese FOX 3 rocket. Created to replace the AIM-7 Sparrow system, it has been in service since 1999.
History
JASDF has been using the AIM-7 system since 1974. Although this system was effective, it was quickly obsolete. The Japanese Ministry of Defense noted that neighboring countries were beginning work to replace the FOX 1 systems and decided that they also needed FOX 3 missiles. Work began in 1985, but at that time it was slow and poorly funded. Work began in full swing in 1994, when the successes of the American AIM-120 rocket were already known.The work lasted until 1999, when the system was introduced as the AAM-4 or Type 99 air-to-air guided munitions. The cost of the development work was 26.3 billion yen.
XAAM-4
Features
One of the features of AAM-4 is that it uses a special modulation scheme for command transmitter, guidance head, proximity fuse, etc. This allows the AAM-4 to attack without being detected by radar and missile warning systems. Since this modulation system cannot transmit commands using the FCS radar, a guidance device called J/ARG-1 is required for AAM-4 to operate. In addition, by using a small, powerful and inexpensive gallium arsenide FET semiconductor instead of the traveling wave lamp (TWT) that was used in the past, tracking performance and anti-ECM and anti-clutter performance have been improved, and it is possible to respond to raging targets. In addition, the induction efficiency is improved by installing a compact fiber optic gyroscope with good response characteristics in the inertial guidance device.Another feature is the armament with a fragmentation directional warhead. In this method, a proximity fuse accurately captures the direction of an enemy aircraft through the built-in radar and conducts a concentrated attack, making it possible to inflict a large attack force more effectively than a conventional proximity fuze that scatters only fragments.
Ability
The AAM-4 missile is capable of destroying various air targets (aircraft, ballistic missiles, anti-ship missiles). It is resistant to ECCM. It has twice the range of the AIM-7.
Vehicles that can mount the AAM-4
- F-15J/DJ MSIP
- F-2
General characteristics
- Year of manufacture :1985-1999
- Length: 366,7 cm
- Diameter: 20,3 cm
- Span: 77 cm
- Weight: 220 kg
- Main Engine: Solid rocket (manufactured by IHI Aerospace)
Performance
- Warhead Weight: ?
- Guidance system: inertial guidance, mid-course update + terminal active radar homing
- Maximum speed: 4-5 Mach
- Operational range: 100 km
Summary
The AAM-4 missile would be a good addition to the Japanese Air Force of the highest era. I suggest it so for the future because of the approaching FOX 3 rockets. It will provide an indigenous system for Japan for FOX 3 rockets. There is also a better version of this rocket, the AAM-4 (B), but that’s a topic for another suggestion. I encourage you to discuss in the comments and to share your own knowledge on this topic.
Finally, I apologize for the linguistic and logical errors because unfortunately English is not my main language and I had to use google translator.
Sources
AAM-4 - Wikipedia
99式空対空誘導弾 - Wikipedia
航空自衛隊の装備品一覧 - Wikipedia
XAAM-4 Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile Short Range Ship-to-Air Missile (globalsecurity.org)
AAM-4_百度百科 (baidu.com)
Overview — AAM-4 air-to-air missile — Anti-Air — Missiles/Rockets/Bombs — Weapons — Military Periscope
6siryou4.pdf (ndl.go.jp)
Управляемая ракета средней дальности AAM-4 (AAM-4B) | Ракетная техника (missilery.info)