The Russians have modified the SA-6 to become a long range AAM (KS-172) which is rumored to have a 300~400km reach against big and slow targets like AWACs. I believe that converting land and sea based SAMs for AAM duty is a low-risk, fast and cheap way of putting a long range missile into service. The three candidates are:-
The PAC-3 is a 10-inch, Mach 5+, 700 lbs weapon. As an AAM it will have a range in excess of 150~200km (roughly quadruple the SAM's effective range). It is an MMW missile with hit-to-kill accuracy, exceptional high altitude agility and proven ABM capability. At twice the weight of an AMRAAM not too heavy to hang on the teens or to be launched from the F-22/35 internal ejectors. The fins fold and the F-22 will be able to carry six of these in lieu of six AMRAAMs in the same space.
The ESSM is another 10" weapon which is 620 lbs. It's fin also fold and you can again pack six into the same internal bay space currently used to hold 6 AMRAAMs. The ESSM has a higher propellant fraction than the PAC-3 -- it carries a smaller warhead, doesn't pack the lateral divert control thruster assembly and has an 8" guidance section. This gives it a 50km surface launched effective range and probably around 200~250km range as an AAM. The problem is that the ESSM is currently a semi-active missile. Not much of a handicap on a ship which isn't going anywhere in a fight and has multiple time shared illuminators, but fitting the AMRAAM's seeker is probably a must for AAM duty.
The SM-6 is basically the SM-2 Block IV with an AIM-120D based guidance package. Also known as the Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM), it is a monsterous SAM weighing 1600 pounds without its 1st stage booster and almost 3000 pounds as a 2 stage weapon. It is effective out to 167km as a single stage (MR) weapon and 370km in 2-stage (ER) extended range form. The single stage missile at 1600 pounds is heavy, but as a long range anti-AWACs weapon it is not unreasonable. Range will be phenomenal at roughly 600~700km and will be limited mostly by the firing aircraft's EW suite or its ELINT feed.
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