RAYTHEON MISSILE [AMRAAM] FIRED MORE THAN 30 TIMES from F-35

[spazsinbad]

RAYTHEON MISSILE FIRED MORE THAN 30 TIMES FROM THE JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER
MODERN AMRAAM USED ON MORE AIRCRAFT THAN ANY OTHER AIR-TO-AIR MISSILE
JULY-AUG 2016 Asia Pacific Defence Reporter

"TUCSON. Ariz., July 12, 2016. More than 30 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles have been fired from all three variants of the Joint Strike Fighter since testing began in 2013. AMRAAM® Is the only air-to-air missile that is currently cleared to fly on the F-35.

'AMRAAM is the most capable air-to-air weapon ever produced,' said Mike Jarrett, Raytheon Air Warfare Systems vice president. 'The F-35 offers several new capabilities and AMRAAM is the perfect weapon to ensure it is unequaled in the Air Dominance arena.'

AMRAAM has been operational on U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs since July 2015. Integration work on the JSF will continue to ensure AMRAAM is fully compatible with each new variant of F-35 software as it is released.

The U.S. Air Force is expected to declare the F-35A operational in 2017. AMRAAM will be an essential capability on the Air Force's newest platform and will ensure the JSF excels in the Air Dominance role. The U.S. Navy is expected to follow suit with an operational capability announcement in 2018 for its F-35Cs.

Because of its ongoing modernization AMRAAM continues to deliver a high level of dependability and versatility at a low lifecycle cost. It hoas also flown on more aircraft than any other air-to-air missile currently flying.

• Procured by 37 countries, AMRAAM is integrated on the F-16, F-15, F/A-18, F-22, Typhoon, Gripen, Tornado and Harrier.

About AMRAAM
AMRAAM is a combat-proven missile that demonstrates operational flexibility in both air-to-air and surface-launch scenarios. It provides today's warfighter with enhanced operational capability, cost effectiveness and future growth options/solutions. Procured by 37 countries, AMRAAM has been integrated on the F-15, F-16, F/A-18, F-22, Typhoon, Gripen, Tornado, Harrier, F-4 and the F-35. It is also the baseline missile for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System."

Source: http://apdr.realviewtechnologies.com/?e ... il#folio=6

[krorvik]

NASAMS is one of the systems prioritized for norwegian defense spending in the coming years.

I'm curious to what will be considered for longer legged missiles and fire/control systems though.

[bring_it_on]

The AMRAAM-ER is the next weapon to be integrated on to NASAMS. If they want to step up the capability then possibly switching to the active ESSM may given them access to a better seeker but would require integration. Beyond this, they would probably need to wait for the AN/MPQ-64 AESA to show up and they would also pretty much need to re-do the launcher to accommodate anything bigger than the ESSM/AMRAAM ER. The only longer ranged weapon that I can think of that could be a viable contender would be the boosted version of the IRIS-T that is nearly ready (operationally) and that would expand to about 40 km in range and about 30% higher altitude than the AMRAAM ER.

[krorvik]

From my understanding of the long term plan, there may also be room for a new system to be aquired.

Edit, this is what the long term plan explicitly says - in addition to expanding NASAMS II, a new long range system will be aquired.

[bring_it_on]

Thanks. Any idea of what sort of requirements they are looking for a long range system?

Edit, this is what the long term plan explicitly says - in addition to expanding NASAMS II, a new long range system will be aquired.

I know Raytheon has long marketed the Patriot there..it would be just about the longest ranged Air Defense system Norway could buy outside of developing one from scratch. But it does come with a huge logistical and manpower footprint that could be reduced if the US asks for a re-design of a launcher and other manpower intensive systems. Besides that they have the SAMP-T but that won't get you the long range AAW that the patriot gets you with the PAC-2 and whatever follows that capability.

[krorvik]

There is no mention of candidates in the long term plan, as there is no mention of surveillance aircraft candidates. This is left for later regular acquisition processes, RFIs etc.

Yep, it's hard not to think Patriot and Poseidons.... should be interesting nonetheless

[blindpilot]

There is no mention of candidates in the long term plan, as there is no mention of surveillance aircraft candidates. This is left for later regular acquisition processes, RFIs etc.

Yep, it's hard not to think Patriot and Poseidons.... should be interesting nonetheless

Since their Aegis Frigates all have 24 empty cells that can have SM6 missiles (with Aamram seekers), it is not hard to imagine they fill those out and got with something like Aegis Ashore, as a long term common maintenance/training environment.

BP

[hornetfinn]

The AMRAAM-ER is the next weapon to be integrated on to NASAMS. If they want to step up the capability then possibly switching to the active ESSM may given them access to a better seeker but would require integration. Beyond this, they would probably need to wait for the AN/MPQ-64 AESA to show up and they would also pretty much need to re-do the launcher to accommodate anything bigger than the ESSM/AMRAAM ER. The only longer ranged weapon that I can think of that could be a viable contender would be the boosted version of the IRIS-T that is nearly ready (operationally) and that would expand to about 40 km in range and about 30% higher altitude than the AMRAAM ER.

I'm not sure what you meant as AMRAAM-ER is active ESSM and it will be integrated with NASAMS first and work is actually ongoing right now:

http://www.raytheon.com/news/feature/ai ... round.html

Designed specifically for ground-based air defense, the AMRAAM-ER missile will be fielded as part of NASAMS. Along with Raytheon’s AN/MPQ-64 F1 Sentinel radar and Kongsberg’s Fire Distribution Center and canister launcher, the system will provide increased protection in the medium range air defense market.

I don't think Iris-T is going to have longer range or higher altitude than AMRAAM-ER. While upgraded with larger motor (AFAIK, there is no booster version under consideration) and enhanced guidance, it's smaller missile than ESSM and AFAIK, AMRAAM-ER is basically ESSM Block 2.

http://www.diehl.com/en/diehl-defence/p ... -t-sl.html

The new surface-to-air guided missile IRIS-T SL (Surface Launched) is an upgraded version of the IRIS-T air-to-air missile. Compared with IRIS-T, IRIS-T SL has an enhanced rocket motor, an aerodynamic hood for extended range, a data link as well as an autonomous GPS/INS navigation system.

It definitely has pretty good range and altitude coverage:
http://www.diehl.com/fileadmin/diehl-de ... Layout.pdf
http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?o ... e&id=37917

ESSM data:
http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/rt ... lution.pdf

Block 1 ESSM was designed to protect against anti-ship cruise missiles, air threats, and surface threats to a range of approximately 40 km

Block 2 ESSM range increase could be pretty substantial going from SARH to ARH seeker and upgraded navigation/guidance systems. I've seen presentation by Kongsberg representative several years ago that attributed ESSM with longer range and higher altitude coverage than Hawk missiles used in Hawk XXI which AFAIK can reach 40-45 km in range and 18-20 km in altitude. They should know as they have a lot of experience with both missiles.

Interestingly this pdf shows Iris-T SL missile for NASAMS: http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/rt ... ms_pdf.pdf

[spazsinbad]

Title this thread gives cause for post not only about JAPAN but about the AIM-120C-7 in use for the F-35s but upgrade problematic by accounts from this article below.

State Department clears $113M sale of AMRAAM missiles to Japan
04 Oct 2017 Valerie Insinna

"WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department has approved a $113 million sale of air-to-air missiles to Japan. The weapons package includes up to 56 AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles, which are more commonly known as AMRAAMs, as well as containers, weapons support, spare and repair parts, and technical and logistical support....

...In July, Defense News reported that the AMRAAM’s obsolescence upgrade, called form, fit, function and refresh, or F3R, had been delayed because Raytheon encountered issues developing a key processor in the missile’s guidance section. The company now plans to cut in design upgrades in fiscal 2019, and key tests have been pushed back by more than a year.

Whether this issue impacts the sale to Japan is yet to be seen. While the State Department’s approval of a sale marks an important step forward in the Foreign Military Sales process, a final deal will still need to be worked out between the U.S. government and Japan. During those negotiations, the value of the contract and quantities can all change, which could further impact the timing of missile production.

In June, U.S. military officials — including Lt. Gen. Arnold Bunch, the Air Force’s top uniformed acquisition official — said they were hopeful that Raytheon could resolve the obsolescence issues. While FY18 budget requests slightly curbed the U.S. Air Force’s and Navy’s AMRAAM procurements, each service plans to increase its buy rates in FY19."

Source: https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia ... -to-japan/

[spazsinbad]

Japan to receive additional AMRAAM missiles
05 Oct 2017 Gareth Jennings

"...The deal must be approved by Congress before it can proceed.

The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) already fields the AIM-120C-7, having been cleared to receive its first batch of 17 missiles in 2014. These augment the earlier AIM-120C-5 variant currently in the force’s inventory.

The AIM-120C-7 is a new design with distinct capability upgrades from previous AMRAAM versions. As noted in Jane’s Air Launched Weapons , the missile has upgraded antenna, receiver, and signal-processing hardware to meet operational requirements in countering new threats, and smaller electronic components to provide internal space for future system growth.

The missile is fitted with an active radar seeker – similar to that of the AIM-120A, but with a number of software upgrades – and is powered by a propulsion system similar to the AIM-120C-5 equivalent, but with an enlarged rocket motor."

Source: http://www.janes.com/article/74641/japa ... m-missiles