Winglet + Japan Improves on a US Missile

choi

David Kesmodel and Daniel Michaels, Air War: 'Winglet' Versus 'Sharklet.' Wall Street Journal, Mar 7, 2012.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB ... 39583270202816.html
(patent dispute between Aviation Partners' "blended winglet" and Airbus "sharklet")

Note:
(a) This report says Joe Clark (current CEO) founded the Seatle-based Aviation Partners in 1991.

Blended Winglet Technology. Aviation Partners Inc, undated.
http://www.aviationpartners.com/technology.html

(b) Winglets. Airbus, undated.
http://www.airbus.com/innovation ... inglets/?contentId=[_TABLE:tt_content;_FIELD:uid],&cHash=22935adfac92fcbbd4ba4e1441d13383
("Airbus’ next step is the large Sharklets™ wingtip devices, representing the latest element in an ongoing continuous improvement programme for its best-selling A320 Family.   Unveiled in 2009, Sharklets provide aerodynamic improvements that result in multiple benefits for operators – including lower fuel burn, reduced emissions, increased range and payload, better take-off performance and rate-of-climb, higher optimum altitude, reduced engine maintenance costs and higher residual aircraft value. These fuel-saving devices completed their first flight in November 2011, outfitted on Airbus’ in-house A320 development aircraft")

(2) Japan Builds a Better AMRAAM. Strategy Page, Mar 7, 2017
http://strategypage.com/htmw/htairw/articles/20120307.aspx
("Japan is spending nearly $500 million to equip its F-2 fighters (a slightly larger, locally made version of the F-16) with Japanese made AAM-4B air-to-air missiles. Although Japan also uses American AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, the new AAM-4B contain its own AESA radar, allowing the firing aircraft to turn away sooner. AMRAAM uses less powerful radar, requiring that the firing aircraft (or another aircraft) to track the target for a longer time before the small radar in the missile detects the target and takes over. The AAM-4B weighs 230 kg (506 pounds), is 3.67 meters (11.37 feet) long, and 200mm (8 inches) in diameter. Max range is 120 kilometers")

My comment:
(a) This report is concise. Earlier today I had read
Bradley Perrett, Actively Seeking Range; Tokyo is powerfully upgrading its F-2's air-to-air capabilities. Aviation Week, Mar 27, 2012
(photo caption: The AAM-4B, as large as AIM-7 Sparrow, has introduced an AESA radar seeker)
, but could not see its point.
(b) AESA: active, electronically scanned array (radar)
(c) Mitsibishi Electric Corp's AAM-4B will equip Mitsubishi Heavy Industry's F-2 Fighter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_F-2
(Produced 1995–2011; Unit cost $127 million (constant 2009 USD); Developed from F-16 Block 40 [equivalent to F-16 C/D)
(d) AMRAAM: (AIM-120) Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIM-120_AMRAAM