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AIM-120C from F-22A
(click for test missile zoom)

Continued funding for improvement program. (March 15/10)

Raytheon’s AIM-120 Advanced, Medium-Range Air to Air Missile (AMRAAM) has become the world market leader for medium range air-to-air missiles, and is also beginning to make inroads within land-based defense systems. It was designed with the lessons of Vietnam in mind, and of local air combat exercises like ACEVAL and Red Flag. This DID FOCUS article covers successive generations of AMRAAM missiles, international contracts and key events from 2006 onward, and even some of its emerging competitors.

One of the key lessons learned from Vietnam was that a fighter would be likely to encounter multiple enemies, and would need to launch and guide several missiles at once in order to ensure its survival. This had not been possible with the AIM-7 Sparrow, a “semi-active radar homing” missile that required a constant radar lock on one target. To make matters worse, enemy fighters were capable of launching missiles of their own. Pilots who weren’t free to maneuver after launch would often be forced to “break lock,” or be killed – sometimes even by a short-range missile fired during the last phases of their enemy’s approach. Since fighters that could carry radar-guided missiles like the AIM-7 tended to be larger and more expensive, and the Soviets were known to have far more fighters overall, this was not a good trade…

• Some MRAAM History, and AMRAAM’s Design Approach
• AMRAAM: Versions & Derivatives
• AMRAAM’s International Competitors
• AMRAAM: Program [NEW]
• AMRAAM: Contracts & Key Events, FY 2006-Present [updated]
• Additional Readings & Sources

Subscribe now to DII and stay on top of technical developments, and contract news involving the world's most popular beyond visual range air-air missile:

• The combat experiences and lessons that motivated AMRAAM;
• AMRAAM's own performance in combat, and what it does and doesn't tell us;
• AMRAAM versions and features;
• Major international competitors - in the air, and on the ground, too;
• Tracking of USD billions in contracts and orders, including export requests;
• Numerous photos and illustrations;
• Additional research resources

Subscribe now to the Defense Industry Insider. DII covers hundreds of defense procurement programs, and gives thousands of links, expert analysis and the latest industry news.

 

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