The Japan Defence Agency (JDA) is requesting initial funding to purchase a small batch of Hughes AIM-120 advanced medium range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM), raising local concern over the future of the indigenous Mitsubishi XAAM-4.
According to industry sources, the Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) wants to acquire a small number of AMRAAMs to evaluate against the XAAM-4. The active-guided missiles will be test-fired from a purpose-modified Boeing/ Mitsubishi F-15J.
Funding for an AMRAAM purchase is contained in the JDA's budgetary request for the next fiscal year, starting in April 1998. Its spending plans will be submitted shortly and are subject to Japanese Government and parliamentary Diet final approval.
The JDA has been funding development of Japan's own active-guided XAAM-4 for several years, but has held off making a final decision on ordering the missile so far. Meanwhile, US officials have been pressing the JASDF to buy the AMRAAM to ensure inter-operability with USAF units based in Japan. The deal would include local co-production of the AMRAAM.
Linked to the JASDF's decision is a Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force requirement for a new surface-to-air missile. Mitsubishi has proposed a ship-launched variant of the XAAM-4 in an effort to diffuse programme development and production costs.
The JDA's Technical Research and Development Institute at Gifu is known to have conducted a series of preliminary XAAM-4 test firings, but the missile has still to be subjected to more rigorous operational testing. A new beyond-visual-range missile forms part of the JASDF's planned sensor and avionics upgrade for its fleet of F-15J/JAs.
Also in the preliminary stage of conceptual design and development is a new-generation short-range dogfight missile, tentatively designated the XAAM-5. Possible foreign alternatives include the British Aerospace-Matra ASRAAM, Rafael Python 4 and Raytheon AIM-9X.
Source: Flight International