Posted on 08/06/2008 6:29:44 AM PDT by MARKUSPRIME
A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter aircraft fired the newest variant of Raytheon's Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile May 22 as part of developmental testing.
The AIM-120D AMRAAM passed well within lethal range of the QF-4 target drone. The missile destroyed the target and met all primary test objectives.
"There is no missile in development or in any air force's inventory that can even come close to matching what the AIM-120D can do."
"The AIM-120D will enable our men and women in uniform to maintain air superiority, regardless of the threat."
WOOOOHOOOO!
What is new about this version?
I got to help in the testing of the first AMRAAM way back in the late 80s as an air weapons controller. It was amazing back then; I can only imagine the capabilities it has now, much of which are probably classified.
They ought to call it the “ISL-AMRAAM”................
So congress will fund 25 of them and take the money for the remaining thousands needed and earmark it.
Well, what does it do that makes is so special?
The "D" on the end.
The only thing that I’ve seen listed is 50% greater range than the preceeding AIM-120-C-7. The other improvements are probably well-classified. Greater range implies higher peak speed. This translates into more energy for terminal maneuvering against a target. Maybe the “active seeker envelope” is greater so that the missile is more “fire & forget” than before (that’s just a guess).
ping
Click on pic for past Navair pings.
Post or FReepmail me if you wish to be enlisted in or discharged from the Navair Pinglist.
The only requirement for inclusion in the Navair Pinglist is an interest in Naval Aviation.
This is a medium to low volume pinglist.
I think it also has a two way data link system.
Anti-jam improvements should be added to the mix. Most critical if you want to stay BVR.
This stuff is way beyond me, but your suggestions make a lot of sense.
I’ve read that the Russian V-77/AA-12 “AMRAAM-ski” is marginally better than the published stats for the AIM-120C, but who really knows? The only thing that anybody really admits to is a higher speed for the Russian missile that confers theoretical advantages in BVR air combat.
A lot of “blood & treasure” are spent developing advanced technical abilities & then concealing them from your opponent. The Russians have a history of claiming more that they can actually do. So again, who knows any of this for sure? Anybody who does, isn’t sayin’.
Yes. Since we haven’t had an air-to-air kill in over ten years, those Al Queda jets need to destroyed.
No but the chicoms and russians need to be.
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