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AAM-4 vs R550 Magic II

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Specifications
AAM-4 R550 Magic II
Origin 🇯🇵 Japan 🇫🇷 France
Category Air-to-Air Air-to-Air
Type Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile Infrared-guided air-to-air missile
Manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Matra
Service year 1999 1986
Number produced -- units 11,300 units
Estimated unit price $0.5 million $0.1 million
Range 100.0 km 20.0 km
Maximum speed Mach 4.5 Mach 2.7
Weight 222 kg 89 kg
Warhead 31.0 kg 12.5 kg
Length 3.67 m 2.75 m
Diameter 203 mm 157 mm
Guidance Active radar homing, Inertial guidance, Datalink Infrared homing
Warhead type High explosive directional blast-fragmentation High Explosive
Scale Comparison
AAM-4 3.67 m R550 MAGIC II 2.75 m 1.75 m
Performance Radar Chart

Overview

The AAM-4 and the R550 Magic II are both Air-to-Air missiles.

The AAM-4 has a range of 100 km — 5.0x the R550 Magic II's 20 km. The AAM-4 reaches 5,557 km/h vs 3,334 km/h for the R550 Magic II. The AAM-4 carries a 31 kg warhead vs 12.5 kg for the R550 Magic II. Launch weight is 222 kg for the AAM-4 vs 89 kg for the R550 Magic II. The AAM-4 uses Active radar homing, Inertial guidance, Datalink guidance, while the R550 Magic II relies on Infrared homing.

Unit cost is $0.45M for the AAM-4 vs $0.09M for the R550 Magic II. The R550 Magic II entered service 13 years before the AAM-4 (1986 vs 1999).

Related Comparisons
AAM-4 vs AIM-120 AMRAAM AAM-4 vs R550 Magic AAM-4 vs Iris-T AAM-4 vs Mica AAM-4 vs AAM-5 AAM-4 vs AIM-132 ASRAAM

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has longer range, the AAM-4 or R550 Magic II?
The AAM-4 has a longer range at 100 km compared to the R550 Magic II's 20 km.
Which is faster, the AAM-4 or R550 Magic II?
The AAM-4 is faster with a maximum speed of Mach 4.5 compared to the R550 Magic II's Mach 2.7.
Which has a larger warhead, the AAM-4 or R550 Magic II?
The AAM-4 carries a larger warhead at 31 kg compared to the R550 Magic II's 12 kg.
Which is heavier, the AAM-4 or R550 Magic II?
The AAM-4 is heavier at 222 kg compared to the R550 Magic II's 89 kg.
Which is longer, the AAM-4 or R550 Magic II?
The AAM-4 is longer at 3.67 meters compared to the R550 Magic II's 2.75 meters.
What guidance systems do the AAM-4 and R550 Magic II use?
The AAM-4 uses Active radar homing, Inertial guidance, Datalink guidance while the R550 Magic II uses Infrared homing guidance.
Which entered service first, the AAM-4 or R550 Magic II?
The R550 Magic II entered service first in 1986, 13 years before the AAM-4 which entered service in 1999.