Product Type: |
Medium-Range Air-to-Air Tactical Missile |
Using Service (US): |
Air Force (USAF) and Navy |
Program Status: |
Full Rate Production (AIM-120D). |
Prime Contractor: |
Raytheon Technologies |
The Raytheon
AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) is an all-weather,
all environment radar guided missile developed to improve capabilities against very low altitude and high-altitude,
high-speed targets in an electronic countermeasures environment.
The AMRAAM is a joint U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy program (led by the Air Force).
AMRAAM is currently in service with more than 36 countries.
The AIM-120 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 a follow-on to the AIM-7 Sparrow missile. The AIM-120 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 on 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.
The last of the AIM-120C AMRAAMs, the AIM-120C7, completed operational testing in August 2007. It incorporates an upgraded antenna, receiver, signal processor,
and new improved software algorithms to counter new threats. The use of smaller system components allows for future growth.
The latest AMRAAM variant, the AIM-120D (originally designated AIM-120C8), is a development of the AIM-120C with a two-way data link, improved navigation
using a GPS-enhanced Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), an expanded no-escape envelope, improved high-angle off-boresight capability + a 50% increase in range.
Production of the AIM-120D commenced in 2006 with the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase completed in September 2009.
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) was declared for the AIM-120D on January 5, 2015 for the Navy and on July 9, 2015 for the Air Force.
The combat-proven AMRAAM has accumulated more than 1.8 million captive-carry hours and more than 2,900 live firings.
To date, more than 17,500 AIM-120 missiles have been produced.
Key Raytheon AMRAAM suppliers include Orbital ATK,
Atlantic Inertial Systems, B-K Manufacturing, Eagle Pitcher, Fairview Machine,
Flexible Circuits, Inc., General Dynamics, Kaman Aerospace, L3 Technologies, Litton, Midcon, M/A-COM,
NAMMO Raufoss, OECO, REMEC, Storm, TTM, Trak Microwave, and UPCO.
The AIM-120 AMRAAM is fielded on the AV-8B Harrier II, F-22 Raptor, F-15 Eagle/F-15E Strike Eagle; F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18C/D Hornet and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, and the F-35 Lightning II. Overseas, AMRAAM is fielded on the Eurofighter Typhoon, Panavia Tornado (United Kingdom), the Saab JAS 39 Gripen as well as on the Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS).
A 15-year AMRAAM production forecast is available through Forecast International's Platinum Forecast System, which includes a breakout of total market unit and value statistics by manufacturer and end-user. This real-time service also includes information on all prime and subcontractors, contract awards, worldwide inventories, a complete program history, and a rationale detailing the outlook of the program. A 10-year AMRAAM production forecast is also available in report format through Forecast International's Missile Forecast service.
The mission of the AMRAAM is to destroy low and high altitude, high-speed enemy targets in an electronic countermeasures environment. AMRAAM is a fire-andforget air-to-air missile, and has replaced the AIM-7 Sparrow as the U.S. military's standard BVR (Beyond Visual Range) intercept missile. The missile has undergone various service life improvements. The current generation AIM-120D, has a two-way data link, GPS-enhanced IMU, an expanded no-escape envelope, improved High-Angle Off-Boresight capability, and a 50% increase in range.
This data is available in Forecast International's U.S. Defense Budget Forecast, a comprehensive analytical database containing historical and forecast budget figures, year-to-year funding comparisons, congressional budget markups, program justification documents, and much more.
Sources Used: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), Raytheon Co., and Orbital ATK.
By Forecast International /// Contact Us for Data Products and Consulting Services
Missile Forecast: |
|
Complete and detailed information, including production forecast data, is provided in our Market Intelligence Service: Missile Forecast. |
Forecast International Budget Data: |
|
With Forecast International's U.S. Defense Budget Forecast, you not only get the latest program news, the DoD funding, worldwide inventories and planned quantities, long range forecasts, but most important – an expert's rationale for all programs and the overall market. |
|
Platinum Forecast System: |
The Platinum Forecast System® is a breakthrough in forecasting technology that enables you to select your own unique criteria to create distinct market segments.
With Platinum, you can create customized assessments that quickly identify both risk and future opportunities. System types and platforms, currencies, world regions
and more can all be input to collect the intelligence that you need, when you need it. Seize competitive advantage and discover what Platinum, the premier aerospace,
defense, power systems and electronics market forecasting tool, can do for you.
Click here for more information and a FREE demo.
|
|
|
|
|
|