AIM-120
AMRAAM
Unofficial
names/slang: Slammer
Function:
Air-to-Air Guided Missile
Date
deployed: 1991
Contractor:
Hughes Aircraft Company
Unit cost:
approx. $386,000
Length:
12' - 0" (3.69m)
Wingspan:
1' - 8.5" (0.53m)
Diameter:
0' - 7" (0.18m)
Speed:
supersonic
Weight at
launch: approx. 335 lbs
Guidance:
Active Radar Homing w/ inertial mid-course
Range:
20+ nm
Engine:
Solid
propellant rocket motor
Warhead:
High Explosive (HE) w/ blast fragmentation |
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Mission:
The AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile
(AMRAAM) is a new generation air-to-air missile. It
has an all-weather, beyond-visual-range capability
and is scheduled to be operational beyond 2000. The
AMRAAM is being procured for the Air Force, U.S.
Navy and America's allies.
Features: The AMRAAM program improves
the aerial combat capabilities of U.S. and allied
aircraft to meet current and future threat of enemy
air-to-air weapons. AMRAAM is compatible with the
Air Force F-15, F-16 and developmental F-22; Navy
F-14 D/D (R) and F/A-18 C/D; German F-4 and the
British Sea Harrier aircraft.
AMRAAM is a follow-on to the AIM-7 Sparrow
missile series. The missile is faster, smaller and
lighter, and has improved capabilities against
low-altitude targets. It incorporates active radar
with an inertial reference unit and micro-computer
system, which makes the missile less dependent upon
the fire-control system of the aircraft. Once the
missile closes on a target, its active radar guides
it to intercept. This enables the pilot to aim and
fire several missiles simultaneously at multiple
targets. The pilot may then perform evasive
maneuvers while the missiles guide themselves to
their targets.
Background: The AMRAAM program
completed its conceptual phase in February 1979 when
the U.S. Air Force selected two of five competing
contractors, Hughes Aircraft Co. and Raytheon Co.,
to continue into the validation phase.
During the 33-month validation phase the
contractors continued missile development by
building actual hardware to demonstrate their
technological concepts. The program phase concluded
in December 1981 after both contractors demonstrated
that their flight-test missiles could satisfy Air
Force and Navy requirements. The Air Force
competitively selected Hughes Aircraft Co.'s Missile
System Group, Canoga Park, Calif., as the full-scale
developer.
During the full-scale development phase,
Hughes Aircraft Co. completed missile development
and Raytheon was selected as a follower producer. A
production contract to both vendors was awarded in
1987. More than 200 of the test missiles were
launched during flight tests at Eglin AFB, Fla.;
White Sands Missile Range, N.M.; and Point Mugu,
Calif. AMRAAM is combat tested, scoring two kills
during Operation Southern Watch, and one kill in
Bosnia. AMRAAM has three variants - AIM-120A/B/C --
operational on U.S. Air Force F-15 and F-16
aircraft.
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