F-35 test fires ASRAAM missile for the first time

[zerion]

F-35 successfully test fires MBDA's ASRAAM missile for the first time



The F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jet has successfully conducted its first firing trials of the MBDA Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), the European missile manufacturer announced today March 15, 2017.

The trials are the first time a British-designed missile has been fired from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and the first time any non-US missile has been fired from the aircraft.

Conducted from both Naval Air Station Patuxent River and Edwards Air Force Base in the USA, the effort has seen both flight trials and air-launched firings of the ASRAAM successfully take place...

The trials were conducted by the integrated test teams at Patuxent and Edwards, which include Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, MBDA and Northrop Grumman.

The development trials work is being conducted under the integration programme for ASRAAM onto the UK’s F-35 aircraft. This effort is currently progressing to plan and these integration activities will allow the Initial Operating Capability of the aircraft by the UK.

http://www.airrecognition.com/index.php ... -time.html

https://www.f35.com/news/detail/f-35-su ... das-asraam

[mixelflick]

So... does ASRAAM hold any advantages over the 9x?

It's good to see customers will have a choice, but I'd think if you're going to fly with AMRAAM's, you'd want 9x's to go along with those. Are there plans for Meteor? If so, then I could see the ASRAAM pairing. Not as familiar with the weapons as I'd like, but it is good to see the F-35 is flexible enough to accommodate..

[Dragon029]

The ASRAAM has a longer range, but otherwise they're quite similar.

[zerion]

Are there plans for Meteor?

Meteor is planned for block 4.

[rheonomic]

Is the ASRAAM just integrated on the B model for the Brits or does the work done also apply for A/C models? (I guess the C doesn't really matter, but I'm wondering if any partner nations operating As would want to operate ASRAAMs instead of 9Xs.)

[spazsinbad]

WotIF? others also use AIM-9Xs and... I guess they'll tell us sometime eh.

"...Notes to editors: http://www.mbda-systems.com/?action=for ... t_id=13990 (PDF 0.36Mb) ASRAAM is the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) in service with the RAF on the Tornado and Typhoon, the Royal Australian Air Force on the F/A-18 Hornet and on order for the Indian Air Force’s Jaguars...."

[Dragon029]

The original intention was for all 3 variants to carry it, but wasn't ASRAAM internal integration postponed because of the British flip-flop between the B and C variant, implying that it wasn't being already being integrated onto the C variant?

[spazsinbad]

F-35 firing boosts ASRAAM sales prospects
16 Mar 2017 Craig Hoyle

"Lockheed Martin F-35s have fired their first non-US-produced missiles in testing, with the activity providing a boost to MBDA’s sales efforts for the ASRAAM. Announcing the development on 15 March, MBDA said flight trials and air-launched firings have taken place using test aircraft operating from Edwards AFB, California and NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.

The short-range, infrared-guided ASRAAM is being integrated with the short take-off and vertical landing F-35B variant for the UK. “The effort is progressing to plan, and these integration activities will allow the initial operating capability of the aircraft” for the nation, MBDA says.

The European company hopes that other F-35 customers could opt to acquire its weapon, in preference to the Raytheon AIM-9X. Australia already uses the Mach 3-capable missile on its Boeing F/A-18A/B strike aircraft, and has previously expressed some interest in also using it with its Joint Strike Fighters.

“The fact that it is a real firing that has taken place is important, because that allows the other F-35A and B users to now have a choice,” says Dave Armstrong, MBDA’s executive group director for sales and business development...."

Photo: https://www.flightglobal.com/assets/get ... emid=69858

Source: https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... ts-435233/

[hornetfinn]

I wonder if IRIS-T will be integrated at some point as it's used in some countries acquiring F-35 like Italy and Norway?

[Tiger05]

I wonder if IRIS-T will be integrated at some point as it's used in some countries acquiring F-35 like Italy and Norway?

Norway ordered 200 AIM-9X Block II in 2015 so i doubt they will keep IRIS-T for the F-35.

[spazsinbad]

Becuz I like missiles Better'n Bombs then this artickle posted here: & get this 'merrycans' RN GOES BEFORE raf - OK?

461st FLTS tests U.K. weapons for F-35B
20 Mar 2017 JPO PR

"The 461st Flight Test Squadron recently conducted weapon delivery accuracy tests with two United Kingdom weapons. The weapons were released from a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II, short takeoff/vertical landing variant, which will also be used by Great Britain’s Royal Air Force.

The U.K. weapons used for the test were the AIM-132 ASRAAM (Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile) and Paveway IV guided bomb.

The 461st FLTS is responsible for the execution of all mission systems developmental testing for U.K. F-35Bs.

According to the Royal Air Force, the ASRAAM is a short-range, infrared-guided missile capable of flying at Mach 3 and is also carried by the RAF’s Eurofighter Typhoons and Panavia Tornado GR4s.

The Paveway IV replaces the U.K.-built Paveway II and is an advanced and highly accurate, state-of-the-art precision guided bomb. It’s an all-weather bomb with inertial navigation and GPS-guided bombing capabilities that is used by RAF and Royal Navy fighters.

Collin O’Fallon, F-35 weapon integration engineer, said two tests have been conducted with the Paveway IV. The first test was executed at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake and was a laser-mode employment of the guided bomb against a tank on the ground. The second test was conducted over Edwards Air Force Base’s Precision Impact Range Area to test the
bomb’s GPS/inertial navigation employment against a tank.

“The two Paveway IV live-fires represent full end-to-end weapon-aircraft integration tests for these two significant use cases of this weapon's employment modes,” said O’Fallon.

On Feb. 24, one U.K. AIM-132 ASRAAM was fired at an unmanned drone over the Point Mugu, California, Sea Range.

“The purpose of the test was to verify that the F-35 system could be used to target and engage an air target with an ASRAAM,” said Max Heald, 461st FLTS, F-35 weapon integration engineer. “The test also verified that the F-35 properly communicated to the missile and gave it everything it needed to prosecute a target.”

Heald added the data collected in the test provided evidence to the weapon supplier they could use to certify AIM-132 ASRAAM carriage on the F-35B.

The 461st FLTS and Joint Strike Fighter Integrated Test Force conducts developmental testing and evaluation for all three variants of the F-35 Lightning II.

Source: http://www.jsf.mil/news/docs/20170320_4 ... sts_UK.pdf (190Kb)

[uclass]

Communicated with it? Datalink?

[Dragon029]

Or just send the correct targeting data pre-launch.

[spazsinbad]

LM F-35 GM Update
01 Jun 2017 Jeff Babione

"Final ASRAAM SDD Test Complete
The Pax River team is also completing significant testing, including the final test for the AIM-132, Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), as part of flight science SDD testing. The U.K.’s Royal Air Force will primarily use this missile. It will provide the U.K. with enhanced aerial combat capabilities, engaging targets within visual range and under complex environmental conditions. The missile launch was the eighth required for the test team to clear the envelope.

This cool photo is a great example of how Pax River ITF photographers capture stunning content to show off to the world. The U.K. will utilize ASRAAMs along with the yellow ordnance you see in this photo, called Paveway IV bombs."

Source: https://a855196877272cb14560-2a4fa819a6 ... 6_1_17.pdf (0.85Mb)