Posted on 02/18/2014 11:23:39 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
AIM-120San Diego, Calif. — The U.S. military needs a longer range AIM-120 to fully utilize the advances made by America’s fifth generation fleet — the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the F-22 Raptor, said one of Lockheed Martin’s top test pilots.
The AIM-120 is an advanced medium-range air-to-air missile and America’s premiere air-to-air weapon in the fleet. The latest model, the D-model, can fly Mach 4 with a range of about 180 kilometers or about 97 nautical miles. William Gigliotti, Lockheed Martin’s lead test pilot at the Fort Worth, Texas, said he wants to see that range extended to take advantage of the advanced radars inside the F-22 and F-35.
He highlighted the recent advances made by the Chinese and the range of their missile defenses and fighter aircraft.
“When we war game it out, that’s the Achilles heel of the U.S. fighter fleet,” Gigliotti said referring to the AIM-120 at a F-35 panel session at a Navy conference here. Two other Navy F-35 pilots and one Marine Corps F-35 aviator, who also sat on the panel, agreed with Gigliotti.
Gigliotti didn’t challenge the U.S. military to develop an improved variant. He instead challenged the defense industry to start developing one now.
Of course, the Air Force and Navy are in the last stages of operational testing for the AIM-120 D model. Most aircraft are equipped with the AIM-120C3-C7 variants.
Operational testing on the D-model was delayed when the Pentagon halted the program in 2009 to allow Raytheon, the lead contractor, to address four performance and reliability deficiencies. The program was restarted in 2012, but was then again delayed because of sequestration funding levels.
Besides the F-35 and the F-22, the AIM-120 is carried by pretty much every fighter jet in the U.S. fleet to include the F-15, F-16 and F/A-18.
Read more: http://defensetech.org/2014/02/18/test-pilot-calls-for-longer-range-aim-120/#ixzz2tkaiJ8wW Defense.org
I was going to suggest bringing back the AIM-54C, with an upgraded fire and forget seeker (a-la the 120). But I didn’t realize the range the 120 already had. Holy cow, and they call that a medium range missile?
We already were working on one:
The Next Generation Missile (NGM),[1] formerly the Joint Dual Role Air Dominance Missile (JDRADM), was a proposed Beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile (AAM) capable of all weather day and night performance.[2][3] It was proposed to be cancelled in The Obama Administration’s 2013 budget request.[4]
Something like that. You want more range you need more energy in the rocket. So you either increase the size of the fuel compartment or you use a hotter (more energetic) fuel. Since most military solid rocket fuel is already basically a class B explosive I’m not sure packing more punch is practical. It might be possible to do something like the Navy’s SM-2 booster, the MK104 DTRM. That is a motor within a motor, two different burn rates (dual thrust rocket motor). A quick boost, then a longer slower sustainer for more range, but at reduced velocity?
I didn’t know it was anything like 97 miles either
The F-35 is a pathetic excuse for a fighter so wanting better weapons to protect it makes sense.. let’s spend more money.
Oops - ROEs says you have to have eyeballs on the guy to prevent fratracide. His IFF might be broken.
So much for long range missiles...
If the F-35 and F-22 are “invisible” at long ranges, why isn’t 97 miles enough?
My first thought as well.
So we are just now catching up with what range we use to have with the Phoenix AIM-54, and what the Russians have had for years after copying that missile with their MIG-31? (R-33)
I am not reassured we are spending our defense dollars in the best way.
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