AAM-3

Description

Two AAM-3 missiles under the right wing of an F-15J

The AAM-3 missile represents a significant milestone in Japan's post-World War II military advancements, particularly in the realm of air defense. Developed primarily for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), the AAM-3's journey from conception to operational deployment mirrors Japan's strategic shift towards indigenous defense technologies, underpinned by a constitutional commitment to self-defense.

Initiated in the 1980s, the development of the AAM-3 was driven by Japan's need to modernize and enhance its air defense capabilities. This period in Japan's defense history was marked by an increasing move towards developing homegrown military technology, moving away from reliance on foreign equipment. The AAM-3, in this context, was envisioned to surpass the performance of existing air-to-air missiles like the American AIM-9 Sidewinder. The design and testing phase was comprehensive, focusing on ensuring that the missile would be compatible with Japan's mainstay fighter aircraft, such as the F-15J and the Mitsubishi F-2.

The missile's operational deployment began in the early 1990s, positioning it as a pivotal component in Japan's air defense strategy. The AAM-3, however, has a limited combat record, primarily due to Japan's post-war policy of non-aggression. While not tested extensively in actual combat, the missile's presence in Japan's arsenal serves as a significant deterrent and plays a vital role in training and defense exercises.

In terms of features, the AAM-3 is distinguished by its design and capabilities. As a short-range, infrared homing missile, it is characterized by its lightweight build and high manoeuvrability, key attributes for air-to-air engagements. The missile employs an infrared seeker for guidance, adept at locking onto the heat signatures of enemy aircraft, thereby enhancing its accuracy and reliability in intercepting fast-moving targets. Additionally, the AAM-3's design ensures compatibility with various Japanese fighter aircraft, allowing for seamless integration into their weapon systems.

Overall, the AAM-3 missile stands as a symbol of Japan's advanced military technology and its strategic focus on robust air defense. While its direct combat usage remains limited due to Japan's defensive posture, the missile's role in reinforcing the nation's air defense capabilities is undisputed.

In game this translates to one of the best missiles which is very reliable, and almost impossible to dodge in some scenarios. It can simply be described as an AIM-9M with better manoeuvrability, which can only be found on the F-15J.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

• F-15J
• F-15J(M)

General info

The AAM-3 is an IR/UV missile specialized for short range and high-G engagements.

Effective damage

The AAM-3 has a 4.9 kg TNT equivalent warhead with a 6 m proximity fuze sensitivity radius. Compared to the 5 m proximity radius of the AIM-9 family of missiles, this makes it less likely to miss the target. However its explosive mass is within the lower end of comparable short range IR missiles.

Comparison with analogues

This missile can be directly compared to the AIM-9M. They have an identical suspended animation IRCCM, along with comparable booster power and duration, giving this missile similar kinetic performance to the AIM-9M.

The AAM-3 however has better manoeuvrability, owning to its fins being able to turn additional degrees compared to the AIM-9M's, and a higher seeker track rate. It also has higher gimbal limit, making it possible to lead the target more before launch, and lessening the chances of losing the target in side aspect shots. The AAM-3 has slightly smaller wings, making it slightly worse when gliding over long distances, however this might only be noticeable when the missile has been in flight for above 8-10 seconds, when the missile is at its kinetic range limit.

Other comparable missiles of this generation are the R-73 and Magic 2. Both of these also have IRCCM, but of a different type however. They use what is called FOV Gating IRCCM. Once such a missile is fired, the FOV of the seeker is reduced, making it harder to "see" flares that are further than a few meters from the target.

Missile Characteristics	AAM-3	AIM-9M	R-73	Magic 2
Mass	91 kg	84 kg	105 kg	89 kg
Guidance	IR	IR	IR	IR
Aspect	All-Aspect	All-Aspect	All-aspect	All-Aspect
Seeker Head	Uncaged (radar slavable)	Uncaged (radar slavable)	Uncaged (radar slavable)	Uncaged (radar slavable)
Lock range (rear-aspect)	11 km	11 km	11 km	11 km
Lock range (all-aspect)	3 km	3 km	3.4 km	3.4 km
IRCCM	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
IRCCM Type	Suspended Animation	Suspended Animation	FOV Gating	FOV Gating
Thrust Vectoring	No	No	Yes	No
Launch range	18 km	18 km	30 km	10 km
Maximum speed	2.5 M	2.5 M	2.5 M	3 M
Maximum overload	40 G	30 G	40 G	35 G
Missile guidance time	45 s	60 s	20 s	25 s
Explosive Mass	4.86 kg TNTe	4.58 kg TNTe	6.08 kg TNTe	9.6kg TNTe

Usage in battles

The AAM-3 currently is one of the most effective IR missiles in the game. When fired at with this missile, it is hard to avoid getting hit without knowing the proper evasion strategies. Alongside the AIM-9M, this missile is most effective against enemies with a low amount of countermeasures, and will struggle against enemies with high flare counts.

When firing at enemies

• This missile best works on unsuspecting enemies in side and rear aspect, almost guaranteeing a hit.
• If the enemy is aware of your presence, avoid to fire this missile from front aspect and from directly behind an enemy. It has almost no chance of hitting an enemy who flares in head on, and only has slightly higher chances of hitting from rear aspect. A good player will be able to avoid this missile from both front and rear aspect reliably, but they will have a harder time dodging the AAM-3 if shot from side aspect.
• The AAM-3 does not lock the sun, so fighting towards the sun is less handicapping than with older missiles.

When fired at you

The AAM-3 is equipped with Suspended Animation IRCCM. These types of seekers pause their tracking when a flare enters their FOV. It does not mean that the missile completely stops operating however; it is still going to direct itself toward the expected intercept location as per when the tracking was put on hold. This means that either uniquely manoeuvering or flaring is not going to be enough to survive. Only manoeuvering will probably not be enough to escape the missile as it is pretty agile. On the other hand, if you are only flaring, the missile is going to continue towards the expected intercept location, occasionally updating its prevision in between flares, and eventually killing you anyway. Therefore, to evade an AAM-3, the strategy goes as follows:

• When this missile is fired at you, you should instantly start flaring, and keep flaring at high interval (< 1s) until the missile has been evaded.
• After your first flare is out, change your course relative to the missile path; i.e.:
  • If the missile is fired from front or rear aspect, any sufficiently pronounced course change should be enough.
  • If the missile is fired from side aspect, either pitch up or down, and avoid turning into or away from the missile.

The AAM-3 has a smokeless motor. For this reason it is very hard to detect its launch unless it is highlighted by AB and RB missile diamond markers. It is also very potent in Simulation Battles for this same reason.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Long burning motor time allows the AAM-3 to reach longer ranges than most other short range IR missiles
• Suspended Animation IRCCM: Makes the AAM-3 hard to dodge in side aspect shots and against enemies who do not know how the IRCCM works
• Highly manoeuvrable non-thrust vectoring missile with a 40G overload
• Smokeless motor - Practically invisible without the help of AB and RB diamond missile indicators
• Seeker can be radar-slaved, allowing for high aspect shots without having to point the nose of the aircraft towards the target

Cons:

• Can be hard to use against enemies who know the proper evasion strategy, unless taken by surprise, and/or enemies who have high flare counts
• As it is an IR missile, it might sometimes re-acquire another source of heat after loosing track of its initial target (including friendly players). Therefore caution is advised when using it in close proximity with friendly aircrafts
• The nature of the Suspended Animation IRCCM makes it so that cutting afterburner isn't strictly necessary for the target aircraft as long as it is deploying flares, making the AAM-3 a poor tool for draining the energy of your opponent

History

The development and operational history of Japan's AAM-3 missile is a fascinating chapter in the broader narrative of Japan's post-World War II military technology evolution. This air-to-air missile, while not as extensively documented as its Western counterparts, reflects Japan's strategic shift towards self-reliance in defense technology, particularly under the constraints of its post-war defense policy.

Development and Creation

The genesis of the AAM-3 missile in the 1980s was set against a backdrop of Japan's increasing focus on indigenous defense capabilities. This period marked a deliberate pivot from dependence on foreign military technology to fostering a homegrown defense industry. The motivation for developing the AAM-3 was twofold: firstly, to replace or augment older air-to-air missiles like the American AIM-9 Sidewinder, and secondly, to respond to the changing security dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region.

The design and testing phase of the AAM-3 was a testament to Japan's meticulous approach to military technology. Engineers aimed to create a missile that boasted superior manoeuvrability, speed, and tracking capabilities compared to its predecessors. The rigorous testing process ensured that the missile would seamlessly integrate with Japan's frontline fighter jets, such as the F-15J and the Mitsubishi F-2. This phase underscored Japan's emphasis on developing a missile that was adept in interception roles, aligning with the nation's strategic air defense needs.

Combat Usage

Upon its deployment in the 1990s, the AAM-3 was primarily positioned for air defense roles within the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The missile was seen as a critical element in bolstering Japan's capabilities in intercepting hostile aircraft and missiles, fitting seamlessly into the country's overarching defense strategy.

However, the combat record of the AAM-3 remains largely uncharted, primarily due to Japan's defensive military stance post-World War II. Japan's engagement in international conflicts has been minimal, and its military policy has heavily leaned towards deterrence rather than aggression. As a result, the AAM-3, like much of Japan's military hardware, has been utilized more as a deterrent tool in defense exercises rather than in active combat situations.

Technological Features

In terms of manoeuvrability and range, the AAM-3 is tailored for short-range engagements. Its agility and responsiveness are critical in close-quarters combat, often encountered in dogfight situations. Furthermore, the missile's compatibility with various aircraft in the JASDF, like the F-15J and the Mitsubishi F-2, highlights its integration into Japan's broader air defense system.

In conclusion, the AAM-3 missile encapsulates Japan's focus on defensive capabilities and technological self-reliance in the realm of military hardware. While its combat use has been limited, the missile's presence in Japan's arsenal serves as a significant component of the nation's air defense strategy, with its technological attributes tailored to enhance Japan's air-to-air interception capabilities.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

• 

  AAM-3 missile just as it has been fired from an F-15J

• 

  AAM-3 missile a few moments after being fired from an F-15J. The AAM-3 has a "smokeless" rocket motor, making its smoke trail very light and thin

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• Air-to-air_missiles
• List of infrared-homing air-to-air missiles

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• AAM-3 topic on the official War Thunder forum