In the middle of the 1980´s it was realizd that the AIM-9L Sidewinder became outdated and after the AAM-2 program was cancelled, Japan was equipped only with aged short-range missiles. So that in the year 1985 the Technical Research and Development Institute Ministry of Defense (TRDI) started development of a short-range air-to-air missile, based on the AIM-9L Sidewinder but with many upgrades. A special two colour IR-seeker was included to provide better distinction of IR-countermeasures and an aircraft and the special design of the missile´s canards provides excellent stability and manoeuvrability, while a kind of shockwave arises at the nose of the missile.