Japan Making Its F-2 Fighter Fleet More Lethal

Defense Update ^ | March 14, 2012 | Richard Dudley

[sukhoi-30mki]

Japan Making Its F-2 Fighter Fleet More Lethal

In a move destined to give Japanese defense manufacturers hope for the future, Aviation Week reported in late February that Japan plans to upgrade 60 F-2 fighters with Mitsubishi Electric Corporation’s AAM-4B missile, a $468 million deal. This enhancement is expected to dramatically improve the lethality of the F-2 when engaging enemy aircraft.

A number of Japan’s Boeing F-15J fighter aircraft were equipped with AAM-4 missiles in 2007. This version of the missile featured an advanced active radar seeker and integrated data link that allowed the pilot to fire and guide the missile to the target until the missile seeker took over allowing the aircraft to begin evasive maneuvers much earlier than in the past.

This deal will go far in helping Japan’s struggling aviation/military industry to continue operating in an environment of intense competition from international rivals.

The AAM-4B is fitted with a missile seeker featuring Active Electronically-Scanned Array (AESA) radar and a greatly improved data link. The AAM-4B will be coupled with enhanced J/APG-2 radar that gives pilots a detection range far superior to what they have now. Analysts believe that the AAM-4B will be deployed as a replacement for the Mitsubishi Electric license- built AIM-7F/M Sparrow’s now in service, a missile that was still in production as late as 2010.

With the AAM-4B’s active search capability, coupled to an upgraded J/APG-2 radar system, modified F-2’s are expected to be able to engage multiple airborne targets from medium range without having to close to visual range, greatly improving the aircraft’s survivability and deadliness.

The AAM-4B is reported to be the same size as the AIM-7F/M Sparrow missile, but its AESA radar seeker head will provide an active homing capability and after launch target lock

[sukhoi-30mki]

[hattend]

Viper-san

[rmlew]

I hope so. The Tohoku Earthquake destroyed an airbase totaling 18 of the 94 F-2 Fighters built by Japan. And the Japanese are not about to re-open production, or purchase F-16 Block 60s to replace these.