AAM-1 (Japanese missile)

"AAM-1" redirects here. For the 1940s American missile, see AAM-A-1 Firebird.

The Mitsubishi AAM-1 was a Japanese infrared homing air-to-air missile developed from the AIM-9B Sidewinder missile.

AAM-1
AAM-1 model
Type	Short-range, infrared homing air-to-air missile
Place of origin	Japan
Service history
In service	1969-1986
Used by	Japan
Production history
Manufacturer	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Unit cost	• ¥3,000,000 (1968) • ¥4,190,000 (1969)
Produced	1969
No. built	around 400
Specifications
Mass	80 kg (180 lb)
Length	2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Diameter	15 cm (6 in)
Operational range	5 km (3 mi)
Maximum speed	1.7 Mach
Guidance system	infrared homing
Launch platform	Aircraft: F-104J Starfighter North American F-86F Mitsubishi F-1

Operational history

Starting in 1969, the AAM-1 was produced by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with around 400 produced in total. It served as the standard armament for Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-104J while used on North American F-86F and Mitsubishi F-1. Being slightly shorter and lighter compared to the AIM-9E Sidewinder, the AAM-1 had inferior performances compared to the American missile which was entering service in Japan. The unit cost of an AIM-9B purchased through Foreign Military Sales was about 1 million yen, while that of AAM-1 was about 3.5 million yen in 1968 and about 4.19 million yen in 1969. Due to higher cost and inferior characteristics, the procurement of the AAM-1 was halted in 1972 with the last examples withdrawn for service in 1986.^[1]

Operators

• Japan - Japan Air Self-Defense Force

See also

• AAM-2 – (Japan)
• AAM-3 – (Japan)
• AAM-4 – (Japan)
• AAM-5 – (Japan)
• AIM-9 Sidewinder – (United States)
• K-13 – (Soviet Union)
• R-60 – (Soviet Union)
• R.550 Magic – (France)
• Shafrir-1 – (Israel)