Posted on 02/14/2012 9:34:50 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
USAF cancels AMRAAM replacement
By: Zach Rosenberg Washington DC
The US Air Force has cancelled the next generation missile (NGM) meant to replace both the anti-air AIM-120 AMRAAM and the anti-radiation AGM-88 HARM, both mainstays of the USA and its international allies.
The NGM programme, also formerly known as the joint dual-role air dominance missile and projected to cost up to $15 billion, was cancelled "for affordability reasons", according to Gen Edward Bolton, USAF chief budget officer.
The contest was eagerly anticipated by major aerospace companies, including Aerojet, Alliant Techsystems, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon.
Following the 13 February decision, the USAF will instead continue to buy AMRAAM and HARM weapons, both designs that date from the Cold War era, with no clear replacement in sight. As recently as December 2011, air force officials had placed NGM as a high priority, saying that not buying the weapon would create unacceptable operational risks.
Both Russia and China have been developing advanced long-range air-to-air missiles, while six European air forces will begin fielding MBDA's Meteor beyond visual-range weapon from 2015.
The US Department of Defense has invested heavily in technologies required for a new missile. Boeing won Air Force Research Laboratory contracts for an integrated sensor and fusing system, directional warhead and long-range rocket motor. Meanwhile the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency awarded Boeing and Raytheon contracts to develop a next generation missile propulsion system under the triple target terminator (T3) programme, which was intended to support NGM. The future of the T3 programme is uncertain.
Air-to-air combat, despite requiring cutting-edge technologies, is a very rare occurrence in modern warfare. Despite over a decade of warfare in Afghanistan and Iraq, neither conflict resulted in air-to-air engagement, including during the initial invasions.
***...the USAF will instead continue to buy AMRAAM and HARM weapons, both designs that date from the Cold War era, with no clear replacement in sight.***
I wish it were that easy to get POLITICANS from the Cold War era too. Then maybe we would still have a country.
What a despicable CIC.
Obama has been canceling a lot of nextgen stuff
If the military is backing down because of finances, and the military can't seem to get any help from Congress, then the military is complicit in the coup.
ozero has to go and we should have impeached him two years ago, but everyone was afraid (terrorism works, eh?) that they'd be a racist.
phuque it ... I am a racist, then.
IMPEACH AND REMOVE THE BASTARD BEFORE THE ELECTION
He's continueing to do serious damage we never recover from.
That is a huge understatement.
Wherever possible he is undermining, weakening, destroying and dismantling America.
He is the Anti - American pResident, nothing more. Opps, agent of the Anti Christ as well, for his open support of Islam.
Our high tech? He - his holy POS- openly gifts that to them.
Obama introduces replacement for all US fighters.
Yep.
...and introduces it as the most innovative event to mark aerospace green technology evolution. Its largest benefit is it leaves a smaller carbon footprint compared to previous jet fighters. In the meanwhile,...all outdated jets and technologies have been given to Pakistan, Iran and the fledgling Egyptian MB.
Looks like a deadly machine, too bad we can’t afford it...
/s
State of the Art [black art, that is]. Expertly
crafted by fine the UAW, overseen by SEIU.
FUBO!!!
lol.
back to mounted infantry!
That along with sexual perverts in command and, women in combat will, sooner or later, render our military--and our nation, as 2nd rate and vulnerable to manipulation, and capitulation.
Very (very) sadly....I expect to see this in the next ten years or so. Sooner, if the 0 is re-elected.
While not considered a ‘next generation’ system, the US navy has been working on a HARM replacement-
http://www.atk.com/downloads/108351_01_AARGM_ds.pdf
I wouldn’t go jumping off of a cliff over this.
The AMRAAM in its current form is an extraordinarily capable mid-long range AAM. The HARM is one of the preeminent anti-radiation missiles in service today.
Cancelling follow-on programs does not mean cancelling follow-on tech and advancements which can be applied to advance our current platforms.
Anyone remember the AIM-155? The replacement for both the AIM-7 and AIM-54 that was cancelled in the 1990s? Yeah. Turns out we really didn’t need it as the AIM-120 was developed from the AIM-7 using tech from multiple advances and it has done the same job for 15 years without a fault. How about the ASRAAM? Europe went wild over it in the 1990s as a Sidewinder replacement yet the U.S. stuck with further advances in the AIM-9’s control surfaces and electronics to produce the AIM-9L/X. The AIM-9 originally entered service in 1958, you see.
So, cancelling a rather un-centered and potentially costly program to replace hardware that is doing extremely well does not bother me greatly. Our fighters and attack aircraft are not going to lose any advantage here. The AIM-120 will continue to improve as tech warrants. The HARM will do the same.
Okay, thanks for the perspective. You obviously know a great deal more than I about matters like this.
Sounds like you served our country, or maybe still serving, in the military. If so, thank you for your (continued) service. God knows we need people like you.
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