AAM-1 (Japanese missile)
{{Redirect|AAM-1|the 1940s American missile|AAM-A-1 Firebird}}
{{One source|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox weapon
| is_missile = yes
| name = AAM-1
| image = 250px
| image_size = 300
| caption = AAM-1 model
| origin = Japan
| type = Short-range, infrared homing air-to-air missile
| used_by = Japan
| manufacturer = Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
| unit_cost = • ¥3,000,000 (1968)
• ¥4,190,000 (1969)
| propellant =
| production_date = 1969
| service = 1969-1986
| variants =
| engine =
| weight = {{cvt|80|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| length = {{cvt|2.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| height =
| diameter = {{cvt|15|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| wingspan =
| speed = 1.7 Mach
| vehicle_range = {{cvt|5|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| ceiling =
| altitude =
| filling =
| guidance = infrared homing
| detonation =
| launch_platform = Aircraft:
| number= around 400
}}
The Mitsubishi AAM-1 was a Japanese infrared homing air-to-air missile developed from the AIM-9B Sidewinder missile.
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Due to higher cost and inferior characteristics, the procurement of the AAM-1 was halted in 1972 with the last examples withdrawn for service in 1986.[https://www.forecastinternational.com/samples/F659_CompleteSample.pdf The Market for Air-to-Air Missiles]
Operators
- {{flag|Japan}} - Japan Air Self-Defense Force
See also
- {{lwc|AAM-2}}
- {{lwc|AAM-3}}
- {{lwc|AAM-4}}
- {{lwc|AAM-5 (Japanese missile)|AAM-5}}
- {{lwc|AIM-9 Sidewinder}}
- {{lwc|K-13 (missile)|K-13}}
- {{lwc|R-60 (missile)|R-60}}
- {{lwc|R.550 Magic}}
- {{lwc|Python (missile)|Shafrir-1}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Japanese missiles}}
Category:Air-to-air missiles of Japan
Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1960s
Category:Short range air-to-air missiles
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