QUICK SEARCH:
 
Latest News
Aviation International News
Airshow & Convention News
AIN Defense Perspective
AIN Air Transport Perspective
Business Jet Traveler
AINalerts
AINmxReports
AINtv
AIN Blogs


SUBSCRIBE NOW...

SPECIAL REPORTS

Bizav Web Directory
Visit our directory of manufacturers, suppliers and service providers

Issue Archives
Search through years of
AIN past issues


CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Search through the latest
events and conferences



REPRINTS

RSS Feed



New Japanese Missiles Shown at Formal Review

Single News Page

A ceremonial review of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) last month included the static display of two new Japanese air-to-air missiles that are now entering service on the JASDF’s F-15J interceptors. The AAM-4 is an active-radar-guided replacement for the AIM-7M Sparrow.

It has been under development by Mitsubishi and the Japan Defense Agency (JDA) for about 10 years. The AAM-5 is a more recent product of this partnership and is billed as a high off-boresight replacement for the AIM-9L Sidewinder and its Japanese equivalent, the AAM-3.

Japan has started a multi-stage upgrade of its F-15 fleet, which will eventually include a new active-scan radar and infrared search-and-track system. Japan is also shopping for a new fighter, but the JDA recently postponed a formal solicitation until next year, in the hope that the Obama administration might ask Congress to relax a ban on exporting the stealthy F-22 Raptor.

The formal review took place at Hyakuri airbase near Tokyo, and featured an address by recently appointed Prime Minister Taro Aso. He noted that Japanese forces were now deployed on four international security operations, with more likely.

Ironically, the Japanese government was obliged to remove the chief of the JASDF just two weeks after the review. General Toshio Tamogami was dismissed for writing a magazine article that downplayed Japan’s role as aggressor before and during World War II.



Back

Share This Article With Others

Tweet thisDigg thisRedditBookmark on deliciousStumble thisShare on FacebookFave on Technorati

Related Articles

Korea’s Surion Helicopter Flies
March 15, 2010

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) flew the prototype of its Surion utility helicopter for the first time on March 10. Flown by two pilots and...

Single News Page
 
QF-16 Target Program Launched
March 15, 2010

For many years the U.S. Air Force has operated a fleet of surplus Phantom IIs as QF-4s in the full-scale aerial target role (FSAT). Under...

Single News Page
 
Evergreen supports UAV team mapping Haitian Relief
March 01, 2010

Evergreen Helicopters is flying in unmanned systems teams using an Elbit Systems Skylark I mini man-pack UAV to map Haitian relief. The small...

 
Brazil picks Rafale for French ‘strategic alliance’
February 19, 2010

Brazil’s purchase of 36 new fighters has pitted the air force’s preference for the Saab Gripen, backed by a 10-month technical report, against a...

Single News Page
 
IAI Reveals Tanker Proposal
February 19, 2010

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is proposing aerial tanker versions of business jets such as the Gulfstream G550. At the Singapore Airshow...

Single News Page