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Due to higher cost and inferior characteristics, the procurement of the AAM-1 was halted in 1972 with the last examples withdrawn for service in 1986.[1]
Operators
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)