Amraams for Advanced Targets
Aviation Week & Space Technology
08/11/2008 , page 18
USAF says seven flight tests remain for the new Raytheon AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (Amraam). Of three test firings, two have been successful, one of which recently destroyed a QF-4 target drone at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. USAF officials report that performance on the two-way data link and an “enhanced” conformal data link on the front end of the weapon are “satisfactory” and will continue to be reviewed. The weapon also has the ability to maneuver actively at the end of its flight to compensate for evasive tactics used by the target. So there is a possibility that the final motor burn can be cued by the terminal seeker going active or even acquiring the target. The D-model also has an improved electronic protection suite—including a Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module and GPS-aided navigation for enhanced combat at beyond visual range. Development for the D is estimated to cost about $350 million, $108 million of which is for Raytheon’s work. The remainder will finance aircraft integration, testing and mission support. |