Type air-to-air In service 2004 - present | Place of origin Japan Unit cost 55-60 million yen | |
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The Mitsubishi AAM-5 (Type 04 air-to-air missile, 04式空対空誘導弾) is a short-range air-to-air missile developed and produced by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Development of the missile as a replacement for the AAM-3 (Type 90) missile commenced in 1991 and it has been operational since 2004.
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Characteristics
Unlike the Type 90 guided missile, the AAM-5 does not have a cannode. Instead, flight is controlled by a thrust vector controlled rocket motor and free-moving type control wings on the missile's tail, which provides high mobility. The central portion of the missile has a long, thin strakes.
The NEC manufactured seeker has also been improved. Addition of a triaxial gimbal to the infrared seeker has increased the field of view and an infrared focal plane array multi-element seeker allows infrared imaging. In particular, the addition of an optical fibre gyroscope INS means LOAL (Lock-on after launch) is possible mid-flight. End of flight conrol is via infrared imaging (IIR). In terms of generation, it is placed in the same generation as missiles such as the AIM-9X and IRIS-T.