Japanese F-2 Fighter Jets Equipped with New AAM-5 Air-to-Air Missiles

The Japanese Air Self-Defense Forces have equipped F-2A fighters with AAM-5 air-to-air missiles.

The relevant photos of the aircraft of the 3rd Tactical Fighter Squadron were posted by the user @GB250_E on the X.

During a routine training flight involving four F-2As, these aircraft with AAM-5 missiles were spotted for the first time.

AAM-5 missiles have been in service with the Japan Air Self-Defense Forces since 2004 and have long been integrated into the missile arsenal of F-15J fighter jets.

However, F-2s are being equipped with these missiles only now. The official missile integration program started in 2011, but for a long time, no information on the progress of the work was published.

Between 2011-2025, AAM-5B missiles were actively tested on F-2A (former XF-2A/B) flying laboratories as part of the integration work.

The AAM-5B is a modification of the AAM-5 missile, which was developed from 2010 to 2016, with the first order of the new model in fiscal year 2017.

Compared to the standard AAM-5, which was developed in the 1990s, the “B” version has improved guidance system capabilities.

Read more: “It’s not an F-16: the history of the Japanese Mitsubishi F-2 fighter”

According to the Aviation Research and Development Group, the missile uses a dual-wavelength infrared focal plane array seeker, and thanks to the use of the Stirling engine, the homing head cooling time has been increased to one hour.

In 2020, the Japanese Ministry of Defense began funding the F-2 modernization program: 31 aircraft were to be upgraded under the five-year plan.

In addition to the integration of the AAM-5, the modernization includes the installation of the TADIL J (Link-16) system, arming with supersonic anti-ship missiles ASM-3A, and preparing the aircraft for the use of long-range cruise missiles 12SSM-ER, which are planned to be introduced into service with the F-2 in 2027.

The AAM-5 missiles are also to be part of the armament of the modernized F-15JSI fighters.

Militarnyi previously reported that the Ministry of Defense of Japan has begun research on the integration of domestic air-to-air missiles on modernized F-15JSI.

The program provides for the development of software for the integration of medium-range AAM-4/B (Type-99) missiles with active radar GWS and short-range AAM-5/B (Type-04/B) missiles with infrared GWS.

In November 2024, Boeing was awarded a contract from the US Department of Defense worth $129,190,000 under the F-15JSI (Japan Super Interceptor) program.