Japan's indigenous air-to-air missile family providing the JASDF with beyond-visual-range and short-range combat capability independent of foreign supply. The AAM-4B is a medium/long-range BVR missile with an active AESA radar seeker (the first AAM globally to use AESA) providing superior target discrimination and ECCM capability, range comparable to AIM-120 AMRAAM at approximately 100 km, and mid-course inertial/datalink guidance. The AAM-5B is an advanced short-range infrared-guided missile with a focal plane array seeker providing high off-boresight engagement capability comparable to the AIM-9X, thrust vector control for extreme manoeuvrability, and lock-on-after-launch capability via helmet-mounted display cueing. Both missiles are integrated with the F-2 and F-15J/DJ fighters. The AAM-4B is unique in that its AESA seeker provides resistance to electronic jamming that conventional mechanically-scanned AAM seekers cannot match.
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- AAM-4B uses AESA seeker (rare) for improved detection in clutter/ECM
- AAM-5B imaging IR seeker with thrust-vectoring provides exceptional close-combat agility
- Fully indigenous; free from US export/ITAR restrictions
- Integrated on F-2 and F-15J without foreign approval
- AAM-4B larger and heavier than AIM-120 AMRAAM; limits F-15J carriage
- Cannot fit inside F-35 internal weapons bays; limited to F-2 and F-15J
- No export customers; higher unit cost than mass-produced AMRAAM
- AAM-4B range inferior to latest Meteor and PL-15
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