According to Janes, the R&D on a certain XAAM Type 054 SRAAM has been completed and the Japanese defense ministry is claiming that it has similar capabilities to the AIM-9X. In light of this, I'm just curious as to the capabilities of Japan's air-to-air missile program, as I would have thought that the US would have let them have ,at least, a certain amount of information-sharing or joint production on the AIM-9X, considering how closely the two countries are allied.
Japanese Air to Air missiles
- Thread starter drg
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DragonKing786
New Member
I highly doubt they would need US assistance,. they have a pretty awesome high-tech industry 2nd only to the US; for them making a A2A missile shouldn't be anything difficult, just check out their Navy 
This raises an interesting question about Japan's military capability. Is Japan a sleeping giant?I highly doubt they would need US assistance,. they have a pretty awesome high-tech industry 2nd only to the US; for them making a A2A missile shouldn't be anything difficult, just check out their Navy
In the past Japan has been a major military power. For reasons we are all aware of it took a political course after WW2 of renouncing war and forbidding the formation of military forces other than for self defence.
In the 60+ years since WW2 however, Japan has gradually built up the 'self defence forces' and has now reached the stage where, IMO, it could easily become a major power if the will of the people decided that it should take this path. 50 years after WW2 Japan had 238,000 military personnel, 1,160 tanks, 15 submarines, 90 attack helicopters, and 440 combat airplanes.
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~zj5j-gttl/sdfind.htm
Recent times have seen Japan deploying military personnel oversea in a limited capacity. It seems to me that this has been encouraged by some other countries and Australian soldiers recently worked with Japanese 'non combat' troops in Iraq.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/02/22/news/australia.php
There seems little doubt that Japan has the technology and the military know how to move quickly to super power status if it decides to take that step. I expect though that it will continue a steady evolutionary path towards achieving this. It may well be that former enemies like the USA and Australia will actually encourage this to counter growing Chinese military strength. Achieving self reliance with defensive weapons like air to air missiles would be a logical step on the way.
Cheers
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The japanese in areas maintain strike control and secrecy over military technology/weapona.., missiles is one of these areas. Has for these AAM they will not export it, and they will work very hard at producing a state of the art weapon and world class and extremely exspensive due to low volume production.
contedicavour
New Member
While I agree that Japanese R&D is impressive and that its industrial capabilities are very advanced... I remain doubtful about Japanese defence programmes which include local development of weapons systems.
While Japanese DDGs are superb, they are basically adaptations of Burke (Kongo class) or Spruance (older DD-ASW classes). The Japanese air force includes US-conceived F15s and F4s and the local F2 is a (relatively failed) adaptation of the F16.
Let me be clear : I believe Japanese industry can rapidly make up for any delay of lack of capability and quickly improve, but I'm just saying that so far there has been mostly a lack of will ...
cheers
While Japanese DDGs are superb, they are basically adaptations of Burke (Kongo class) or Spruance (older DD-ASW classes). The Japanese air force includes US-conceived F15s and F4s and the local F2 is a (relatively failed) adaptation of the F16.
Let me be clear : I believe Japanese industry can rapidly make up for any delay of lack of capability and quickly improve, but I'm just saying that so far there has been mostly a lack of will ...
cheers
civilian technology doesn't necessarily translate to military technology. Just take a look at the performance of F-2 and JAPG-1 and it's a good evidence of that.I highly doubt they would need US assistance,. they have a pretty awesome high-tech industry 2nd only to the US; for them making a A2A missile shouldn't be anything difficult, just check out their Navy
I think it would be difficult for them to over take, or even equal, the scope, quality, and size, of deeply entrenched Military/Industrial bases. No doubt they can focus on certain systems and whip up a beaut, but as far as size and overall systems? Even if they have the Industrial/Technological resources they dont have the INTL market share needed to make the development of a wide range of systems pay.
And I'm kinda suspect of other nations wheeling out F-geewhiz's, that they say compare to our geewhiz's, shortly, or a few years after, we wheel ours out. If it aint technology theft then its "cooperation".
Still, I wouldnt be surprised if they made a darn good missile on their own. Gosh knows they make a bloody good camera so why not a missile?
And I'm kinda suspect of other nations wheeling out F-geewhiz's, that they say compare to our geewhiz's, shortly, or a few years after, we wheel ours out. If it aint technology theft then its "cooperation".
Still, I wouldnt be surprised if they made a darn good missile on their own. Gosh knows they make a bloody good camera so why not a missile?
Grand Danois
Entertainer
M1A1
Armour from the UK, fire control from Canada, gun from Germany, suspension and chassis also from Germany (?).
SDB
Diamondback from UK/France/Italy.
Naval stuff
57mm MK 110 for the LCS, Zumwalts and USCG from Sweden, 76mm Mk75 from Italy.
European radars for both the LCS. Hull concepts for the NG LCS from Australia. Countermeasures from Denmark and Australia.
F-35 JSF
EW suite and liftfan technology from UK
List goes on.
Armour from the UK, fire control from Canada, gun from Germany, suspension and chassis also from Germany (?).
SDB
Diamondback from UK/France/Italy.
Naval stuff
57mm MK 110 for the LCS, Zumwalts and USCG from Sweden, 76mm Mk75 from Italy.
European radars for both the LCS. Hull concepts for the NG LCS from Australia. Countermeasures from Denmark and Australia.
F-35 JSF
EW suite and liftfan technology from UK
List goes on.
e..g. LCS - gas turbines from the UK, IIRC.
and DDX
UK, France, and I'd even say Italy, have pretty established military/Industrial bases. And Australia is like Japan, or South Africa, India...ect Capable of whipping up some pretty darn good systems but they still go shopping for most stuff. The Euro-consortium's can be considered "major" IBs producing a multitude of excellent systems. AND have the benefit of consistent export profits from decades of outstanding development.
And yes we Yanks have benefited quite a bit by the techno-accomplishments of our Allies. Does Japan export any military hardware? Its tough getting investors to fund R&D when there is no export potential.