AAM-4 vs R550 Magic
Overview
The AAM-4 and the R550 Magic are both Air-to-Air missiles.
The AAM-4 has a range of 100 km — 8.3x the R550 Magic's 12 km. The AAM-4 reaches 5,557 km/h vs 3,704 km/h for the R550 Magic. The AAM-4 carries a 31 kg warhead vs 12.5 kg for the R550 Magic. Launch weight is 222 kg for the AAM-4 vs 89 kg for the R550 Magic. The AAM-4 uses Active radar homing, Inertial guidance, Datalink guidance, while the R550 Magic relies on Infrared homing.
Unit cost is $0.45M for the AAM-4 vs $0.09M for the R550 Magic. The R550 Magic entered service 13 years before the AAM-4 (1986 vs 1999).
| Japanese air-to-air missile, entered service in 1999, uses active radar homing for guidance. | |
| Origin | 🇯🇵 Japan |
| Category | Air-to-Air |
| Type | Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Service year | 1999 |
| Number produced | -- units |
| Estimated unit price | $0.5 million |
| French air-to-air missile, entering service in 1986, utilizes infrared homing for guidance. | |
| Origin | 🇫🇷 France |
| Category | Air-to-Air |
| Type | Infrared-guided air-to-air missile |
| Manufacturer | Matra |
| Service year | 1986 |
| Number produced | 11,300 units |
| Estimated unit price | $0.1 million |
| Range | 100.0 km ◉ |
| Maximum speed | Mach 4.5 ◉ |
| Weight | 222 kg ◉ |
| Warhead | 31.0 kg ◉ |
| Length | 3.67 m ◉ |
| Diameter | 203 mm ◉ |
| Guidance | Active radar homing, Inertial guidance, Datalink |
| Warhead type | High explosive directional blast-fragmentation |
| Range | 12.0 km ◉ |
| Maximum speed | Mach 3.0 ◉ |
| Weight | 89 kg ◉ |
| Warhead | 12.5 kg ◉ |
| Length | 2.75 m ◉ |
| Diameter | 160 mm ◉ |
| Guidance | Infrared homing |
| Warhead type | High Explosive |
Performance Radar Chart
Detailed Comparison
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which has longer range, the AAM-4 or R550 Magic?
The AAM-4 has a longer range at 100 km compared to the R550 Magic's 12 km.
Which is faster, the AAM-4 or R550 Magic?
The AAM-4 is faster with a maximum speed of Mach 4.5 compared to the R550 Magic's Mach 3.0.
Which has a larger warhead, the AAM-4 or R550 Magic?
The AAM-4 carries a larger warhead at 31 kg compared to the R550 Magic's 12 kg.
Which is heavier, the AAM-4 or R550 Magic?
The AAM-4 is heavier at 222 kg compared to the R550 Magic's 89 kg.
Which is longer, the AAM-4 or R550 Magic?
The AAM-4 is longer at 3.67 meters compared to the R550 Magic's 2.75 meters.
What guidance systems do the AAM-4 and R550 Magic use?
The AAM-4 uses Active radar homing, Inertial guidance, Datalink guidance while the R550 Magic uses Infrared homing guidance.
Which entered service first, the AAM-4 or R550 Magic?
The R550 Magic entered service first in 1986, 13 years before the AAM-4 which entered service in 1999.