Also if its known (or expect) that they will be fighting or not, IRST range is somewhat reduced at lower altitudes( diffraction & and absorption more significant due to higher fluid density), and significantly by not flying supersonic(Skin heating), take for example the performance of the AN/ALR-23 IRSTS from the F-14.
And that doesn’t take into account any potential Signature control features that may or may not be present(e.g. Active cooling using on board Fuel as a heat sink, or variable / high bypass ratio engines), though it is certainly likely to be more reliable than the radar at range.
not at all, it’s closer in relation to the aim7M than the aim120 if anything being designed at the 203mm standard and designed to fit into places aim7s already had (they even planned it for their F4s but that got canned for cost reasons post cold war). It also went into service around the same time so unless they had a time machine that’d be hard.
It will have range advantages over an early amrram but that’s also because its a singifignatly larger missile. This means it can both have more fuel and a more powerful seeker with the same technology, but of couse the downsides of extra weight and not being as small and flexible as the amraam (which can even fit on the wingtips of an F16). Just differnt design rules and tradeoffs.
Only in this case the AAM-4 is a domestically developed and manufactured missile from Japan for Japanese service Aircraft and U.S has no claim to it whatsoever
well rather funny the AAM-4 was based off an AIM-7M just that they did their own stuff in there specially in the electronics, making it stupidly good for a first attempt on an ARH, the missile overall performs pretty similarly to an AIM-7M but with really good turn rate for how heavy it is, aswell as having a decently good range too
The entire OP is just plain mis information. The guy thinks AAM-4 was an American missle or development when neither is true that just makes his entire argument invalid.
Its even more funny when you think about the fact that AAM-4 is artificially nerfed to meet current AIM-120A/B levels.
