via Raytheon Press Release.
VIDSEL TEST RANGE, Sweden, Dec. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Armed forces from Norway,Finland, Switzerland and Turkey successfully fired five Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN)-builtAdvanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) AIM-120C7s as part of the Thor's Hammer flight test campaign in September.120C7 is just completing development test? Just wow. I thought that we were already well on our way to putting into service the "D" model. Don't get me wrong, I realize that the C7 will have many of the features of the D but I was under the impression that it would give us much longer range (approaching that of the long dead Phoenix missile) with higher kill probability.
Launched from F-16 and F/A-18 fighter aircraft and the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) ground launchers, the missiles achieved five successful shots on a variety of profiles and targets. Norway shot one AIM-120C7 from a NASAMS High Mobility Launcher andFinland shot two from a NASAMS canister launcher, while Switzerland successfully fired one from an F-18 and Turkey fired one from an F-16.
"AMRAAM is the world's most advanced air dominance weapon, and these successful tests once again demonstrate the missile's extraordinary level of effectiveness and reliability," said Mike Jarrett, vice president of Raytheon's Air Warfare Systems. "Intercepting all five targets from different platforms showcased AMRAAM's versatility across different scenarios for U.S. and allied forces worldwide."
Named for the hammer-wielding god in Norse mythology, the month-long Thor's Hammer exercise marks the completion of developmental testing for the AIM-120C7.
foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/americas-capitol-is-guarded-by-norwegian-surface-to-ai-1556894733
ReplyDeleteNow if only this was the Thor weapons satellite test. :)
ReplyDeleteThe AIM-54 (Phoenix) was a huge bastard, the AMRAAM is going to need to bulk up to get to the same range.
The Baseline C7 finished DT a long time ago and this "DT" for C7 is related to programs that keep each block (C5/6/7,etc) up to date with the latest codes, ECCM programming, threats, etc.
ReplyDeleteThese programs are called the System Improvement Program (SIP), Software Upgrade Program (SWUP), nad Electronic Protection (EP).
FY 2014 Plans:
1. AIM-120C SWUP: Continues maturing AIM-120C missile software candidates, target models and simulation tools. Candidates provide improvements to tactical missile software and enhance the fidelity of simulation performance predictions.
2. EPIP Basic and Advanced: Completes EPIP Basic IT live fire program and a Functional Configuration Audit (FCA) for AIM-120C-3/4/5/6 configurations and releases missile software for dedicated OT. Continues Advanced EPIP implementation effort for AIM-120C-7 to address advanced threats. Completes CDR for EPIP Advanced software Tape 1. Continues development efforts for Advanced EPIP software Tape 2.
3. AIM-120D SIP: Continues candidate evaluation, selection and design activities including lab and captive flight test activities for potential system performance upgrades. Continues SIP-1 software development phase and awards SIP-2 software development contract. Continues studies of additional software improvements to keep pace with evolving threats and parts obsolescence.
Based on the timing, this DT relates to the SWUP 2 (EPIP Adv. Tape 1) schedule.
http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt271/SpudmanWP/JDRADM/AMRAAM_2013_Sch_zpse0076d47.png
On a related note, ground launched AMRAAMs seem to be older versions to begin with as they are rotated off the airframes (replaced by newer AMRAAMs).
DeleteAMRAAM D is classified and is not for export. The ones available for export is AMRAAM C7.
ReplyDeleteMjolnir......Grrrr.
ReplyDeleteWith reference to Solomon's previous CUDA article, the concept is right but the execution sucks.
ReplyDeleteYou want a short missile like the CUDA and you want it in a standardized VLS atop a mini booster so that, wherever you go, if you have an ACV with a big troop bay that can take a preloaded VLS pallet, you can salvo launch these.
The key being to understand that it cannot be something you do -just- for AD. There should be S2S models available as well which make the most of economies of scale while offering much cheaper alternative to an S2A version of the CUDA concept (no ACM for instance = bigger warhead, no radar = GPS/INS basic model and GPS/SALH secondary).
AMRAAM Is 12ft long. Hellfire only has a range of 8-10km, Griffin, 2-4. Unless you plan on bringing a HEMTT into the weeds or across the beach, you don't want to be hauling something that has a foldup 'missiles in a box' styled approach to warfare. But a short booster can on CUDA turns it from dropfire into an ejectable weapons with TVC to align it with whatever target bearing makes sense before the main motor lights, at 1,500ft or so.
An M777 weighs in the neighborhood of 4 tons. It will lobshot to 40km. But only at a rate of 2spm with brief surges to 5spm. It also is not going anywhere fast relative to a slingload + ammo. What is missed is the opportunity to take a Mach 3 SAM/AAM type system and put into the inbetween range point of 10-20km within about a minute's flight time.
If you're trying to deal with a Rocket Man threat-
http://www.commandposts.com/2011/09/target-rocket-man/
Especially if you are actually in overwatch on 4-5 Outposts and FOBs, from an own-position some 2-5km -outside- a major builtup condition. We're not talking the Soviet Horde here, one shot wins the the fight. But in a world where the U.S. failed to field the FOG-M and now there are four clones (ALAS, FOG-MPM, Polyphem, Spike, AFT-10); it could well be just a matter of time before the threat realizes they only get Just The One Bite and decide to make it count with guided shot. And versus that kind of system which can approach below the horizon of most artillery finders, there can be only one counter: blow up the guidance controller.
And oh yes, it also does surface to air.
I´d say this is Spain rather than Norway or Finland.
ReplyDeletehttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JmH73bfxM2s/VIW5lxiAE_I/AAAAAAABEXw/LurcRF1TNjI/s1600/rtn11_nasams_04img.jpg