The Mitsubishi AAM-3 or Type 90 air-to-air missile () is a short-range

all-aspect An all-aspect air-to-air missile can track a target no matter which way the target faces relative to the missile. In other words, an all-aspect missile can be launched against a target not only in a tail-chase engagement, but also in a head-on eng ...

air-to-air missile An air-to-air missile (AAM) is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft (including unmanned aircraft such as cruise missiles). AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid-fuel roc ...

developed by

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

. It has been officially operated since 1991, and is expected to ultimately replace the US

AIM-9 Sidewinder The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a short-range air-to-air missile. Entering service with the United States Navy in 1956 and the Air Force in 1964, the AIM-9 is one of the oldest, cheapest, and most successful air-to-air missiles. Its latest variants rema ...

. Developed as a successor to the AIM-9L Sidewinder, the AAM-3 improved target acquisition and tracking capabilities through more sensitive temperature difference detection, and improved flight manoeuvrability of the missile itself. Research began as early as 1974, but full-scale development only began in 1986 and entered service in 1991 (

Heisei The was the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of Emperor Akihito from 8 January 1989 until his abdication on 30 April 2019. The Heisei era started on 8 January 1989, the day after the death of the Emperor Hirohito, when hi ...

2).

Development

In 1974, Japan began limited development of the AAM-3 as a project to replace the existing AIM-9 Sidewinders in Japanese service. The project was rather limited in budget due to the failure of the AAM-2. The project received a massive boost in development in the 1980s, driven by Japan's needs for more modern military equipment, rocketing the budget to nearly ¥12.2 billion ($77.3 million USD). The missile was required to be more capable than existing missiles in Japanese service. The final result came out in the 1990s as the AAM-3 entered service. However, the AAM-3 was unable to replace the AIM-9s as the missile was nearly double the price of the Sidewinder. Due to this, the AAM-3 is expected to be replaced by the AAM-5.

Design

JASDF AAM-3 in Hamamatsu Air Base 20140928

The AAM-3 uses a unique passive dual-wavelength light wave (

infrared Infrared (IR; sometimes called infrared light) is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than that of visible light but shorter than microwaves. The infrared spectral band begins with the waves that are just longer than those ...

and

ultraviolet Ultraviolet radiation, also known as simply UV, is electromagnetic radiation of wavelengths of 10–400 nanometers, shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays. UV radiation is present in sunlight and constitutes about 10% of ...

) homing seeker. The front section is equipped with a large notched canard that improves the missile's manoeuvrability, and has a stabilizing wing at the end. Developed by

NEC is a Japanese multinational information technology and electronics corporation, headquartered at the NEC Supertower in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. It provides IT and network solutions, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), Inte ...

, the seeker is very resistant to aircraft-deployed countermeasures due to its Noise Removal technology. In addition, the swing angle of the seeker is large, so the dome at the tip of the missile is larger than that of the AIM-9 Sidewinder. The missile also has high off- boresight capability, and the missile is controlled using a direct-drive electric servo actuator that responds quickly and allows fine-grained control, unlike conventional gas servo systems that use hot gas. In addition, the bank-to-turn technology has been introduced, the seeker and swing angle have been expanded, and two-color infrared rays have been adopted, resulting in a high accuracy rate. The

proximity fuse A Proximity Fuse (also VT fuse or "variable time fuze") is a fuse that detonates an explosive device automatically when it approaches within a certain distance of its target. Proximity fuses are designed for elusive military targets such as air ...

is also made by NEC and is an optical type using a laser. The

warhead A warhead is the section of a device that contains the explosive agent or toxic (biological, chemical, or nuclear) material that is delivered by a missile, rocket (weapon), rocket, torpedo, or bomb. Classification Types of warheads include: *E ...

uses a directional warhead that can efficiently deliver large attack power. Its overall capabilities are said to exceed that of the American AIM-9L Sidewinder, which the missile was developed off of.

Operators

; *

Japan Air Self-Defense Force The , , also referred to as the Japanese Air Force, is the Aerial warfare, air and space warfare, space branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace, other air and space operations, cyberwarfare and ...

** F-15J/DJ Eagle ** Mitsubishi F-2 ** F-4EJ ''Kai''

Specifications

* Length: 3.1 m * Diameter: 127 mm * Weight: 91 kg * Guidance:

Infrared Homing Infrared homing is a Missile guidance#Passive homing, 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 "he ...

/ Ultraviolet Homing (EO-UV/IR) * Range: 7-13 km * Speed: Mach 3.5 Source: https://www.forecastinternational.com/samples/F659_CompleteSample.pdf

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 The Mitsubishi AAM-3 or Type 90 air-to-air missile () is a short-range all-aspect air-to-air missile developed by Japan. It has been officially operated since 1991, and is expected to ultimately replace the US AIM-9 Sidewinder. Developed as a ...