EXCLUSIVE:Raytheon adapts AIM-9X for air-to-ground mission

Flight International ^ | 03/12/09 | Stephen Trimble

[sukhoi-30mki]

EXCLUSIVE: Raytheon adapts AIM-9X for air-to-ground mission

By Stephen Trimble

Raytheon has adapted the heat-seeking AIM-9X to strike moving targets on the ground or in the water, adding another new capability for the formerly air-to-air-only missile.

The modification allows the same AIM-9X to strike both air and ground targets. Jeff White, Raytheon's business development manager for AIM-9X, declines to describe the modification in detail, but says it involves only software changes. The AIM-9X infrared seeker, proximity fuse and blast/fragmentation warhead remain unchanged.

During a 23 September Gulf of Mexico test, a US Air Force F-15C fired the air-to-surface AIM-9X and hit a speeding "cigar boat", a type commonly used by drug smugglers. "The missile went right through the boat," says White.

The F-15C test follows a previous shot by an F-16 at a similar target, which also scored a hit on the boat, he adds.

The project to develop the air-to-surface mode for the AIM-9X began with a request from the USAF in March 2007. Although the AIM-9X is primarily an air-to-air missile used in short-range engagements, USAF officials saw a need to make it multi-purpose.

"Maybe you're flying an F-15 that only has air-to-air weapons," says White. "The F-15C only carries air-to-air weapons. Well, now the pilot has an air-to-ground weapon."

The same concept also applies to fighters that can carry a mix of air and ground munitions. For example, if a Boeing F/A-18 is asked to strike a ground target after dropping all its bombs, the pilot could still use the AIM-9X, says White.

Raytheon has greatly expanded the missile's capability since introducing the AIM-9X Block 1 missile in 2003. The company is completing developmental testing on Block 2, which adds a smaller fuse that allows room to insert a one-way datalink for lock-on after launch capability.

The latter upgrade also enables Raytheon to convert the AIM-9X into a surface-to-air missile, launched from a high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV). Raytheon is discussing the concept with US government agencies, says White.

Meanwhile, a submarine-launched variant of the AIM-9X is being prepared for the US Navy. Raytheon has demonstrated underwater launch of a Sidewinder-shaped missile, and is in talks with the USN to launch a programme of record in 2012.

The goal of the Littoral Warfare Weapon would be to equip submarines with a missile to strike helicopters equipped with dipping sonars and torpedoes. "If submarines get caught in the shallows, they need some defence," says White.

[sukhoi-30mki]

[Bidimus1]

The Aim9x has been used as a Air to Ground weapon before,
AGM-122 Sidearm. The fact that the new system will be both Air to Air and Air to Ground is novel, but the small blast fragmentation warhead of an Air to Air weapon will be very limiting on ground targets. Still over all should be a nice add on.

[GonzoGOP]

Not much of a warhead for air to ground use. It would blow up a truck nicely. However the fragmentation warhead, IIRC it is an expanding rod type, would be darn near useless against a bunker or MBT. But proximity fused to burst above the ground it would be very nasty to infantry caught in the open.

The idea of shooting them out of subs is just too cool. Subs killing aircraft is like something out of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.

[FrankR]

Grandson to the old AIM-9 “Sidewinder”. I worked on those older models in the Air Force back in the late ‘60’s, along with the old Falcon Missiles.

[bvw]

Cool. I used to work in a room with the targeting head on a gimbal and would always follow this one particular guy around. It preferred him to the target led.

[Yo-Yo]

At $85,000 apiece, that's a rather expensive way to attack soft ground targets.

Maybe they should put a 20mm Vulcan on those aircraft for air-to-ground attack? Oh wait...

[Blueflag]

This multi-purpose rocket can be tasked for ground and air targets, so ... this means you can hang ‘several’ of ‘em on a Predator (or similar) and have it loiter for hours waiting for a variety of targets of opportunity.

Kinda reminds me on sumthin Dale Brown would write about.

Also, since the rocket that hit the cigar boat “ ... The missile went right through the boat,” ... that might not sink or disable the boat. But it would sure surprise the H3LL out of the crew.

[IGOTMINE]

The discredited Randy “Duke” Cunningham reported shooting an NVA truck with a Sidewinder during the Vietnam unpleasantness. Of course, anything he says must be taken with a pillar of salt...

[Yo-Yo]

This multi-purpose rocket can be tasked for ground and air targets, so ... this means you can hang ‘several’ of ‘em on a Predator (or similar) and have it loiter for hours waiting for a variety of targets of opportunity.

Reminds me of the video game Ace Combat, where the IR missiles can be locked onto A-A or A-G targets. If only you could hang 70 of them on an F-16 like the game does...

Hellfires are more effective against A-G targets, especially from drones, are more controllable (to avoid last second collateral damage if necessary,) and cost about $20k less apiece.

If this is truly just a software upgrade to both the missile and the aircraft's fire control system, then I say fine, go for it. But I predict it will see very limited use on ground targets in the real world.

[Wilum]

Grandson to the old AIM-9 “Sidewinder”.

Loaded "a few" myself in the same time frame.

[ArrogantBustard]

Seems like just the thing for arranging a meeting between mohammedan pirates and their ever beneficent “allah”.

[Bidimus1]

Its been done the other way around too.. GBU-10 (2000lbs Paveway II) vs Hughes 500

14 Feb: Bennett-Bakke. This was the famous laser-guided-bomb kill. The helicopter was on the ground at the time that PACKARD 41 released the GBU-10, but took off while the bomb was in flight. The WSO kept lasing the helicopter anyway, and the bomb guided straight through the rotor disc, destroying the Hughes 500 instantly. The kill was witnessed by a Special Forces team on the ground.

Not real practical but darned effective!

[ArrogantBustard]

Did the bomb detonate, or simply shatter the rotor blades?

[Bidimus1]

Can not get any more accurate reports from web, exept that it “disintegrated” Since the GBU-10 was mainly used for aircraft runway attack it would probably have had a delay fuse so probably just a KE-KILL.

Due to the need to minimize collateral damage the Brits even used LG-KE ONLY weapons

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2919249.stm

[valkyry1]

Are the new sidewinders still roll stabilized with air driven gyros on the tail fins?

[stboz]

Subs killing aircraft is like something out of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.

Now why am I remembering the words "TWA 800 and FireBee?"

[GonzoGOP]

TWA 800 would have been way to high for a AIM-9 launched from the ground. The Chaparral (that uses an AIM-9 launched from the ground, has a max altitude of only 3,000 meters (around 10,000 feet). TWA 800 was climbing to 15,000 feet (4,600 meters) when it blew up. Not saying it wasn't a missile, but it was too high for it to have been an AIM-9 launched from the ground.

[GonzoGOP]

Now why am I remembering the words "TWA 800 and FireBee?"

TWA 800 would have been way too high for a AIM-9 launched from the ground. The Chaparral (that uses an AIM-9 launched from the ground, has a max altitude of only 3,000 meters (around 10,000 feet). TWA 800 was climbing to 15,000 feet (4,600 meters) when it blew up. Not saying it wasn't a missile, but it was too high for it to have been an AIM-9 launched from the ground.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Of course, anything he says must be taken with a pillar of salt...

Correction: Of course, anything he says must be taken with a silo of salt...

[Ezekiel]

AIM-9X

Not sure about the X. It has to aim nine times before finding its way? That's rather aimless. Maybe it's a nod to Ferris Bueller.