AIM-120 AMRAAM development projects

NMaude said:
What exactly is meant by re-hosting?
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They're taking software for older versions of the missile and putting in the newer hardware, ideally without significant changes, so platforms can use the new hardware more easily. Saves a whole bunch of money when done right.
 
So they're basically recompiling the software so that it can run on the new hardware?
 
Forest Green said:
breakingdefense.com

Raytheon to max out AMRAAM production for ‘foreseeable future,’ exec says - Breaking Defense

A Raytheon spokesperson said an upgraded domestic variant of the missile would be fielded “by the end of the year,” with an international variant expected to pass a critical milestone in “late 2023 or early 2024.”
breakingdefense.com breakingdefense.com
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I won't be surprised if production is being maxed out so that the new build AMRAAMs will enable the older stock to be given to Ukraine for NASAMS units and future F-16 deliveries to Ukraine.
 
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In that article they appear to be backing away from Amraam leaving production and being superceded by AIM-260....and the cost of AIM-260 appears to be eye watering....which is probably one of the reasons why they may have reconsidered...
 
timmymagic said:
In that article they appear to be backing away from Amraam leaving production and being superceded by AIM-260....and the cost of AIM-260 appears to be eye watering....which is probably one of the reasons why they may have reconsidered...
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I suspect that there will be a long period of planes carrying both AMRAAMs and AIM-260s.

Got a 5th gen fighter like Su57, J-20, or J-35 to deal with? let fly that AIM-260. "Only" dealing with some variety of Flanker? Use the AMRAAM, Luke.
 
Thought this is a useful thread to share:

On the Topic Of AMRAAM C-Variants: A Request For The AIM-120C-4, C-5, C-6 and C-7

forum.dcs.world

On the Topic Of AMRAAM C-Variants: A Request For The AIM-120C-4, C-5, C-6 and C-7

This post is an attempt to conclusively answer the question of which AMRAAM variants each applicable module in DCS should have access to. Several claims have been made in favor of adding new variants but I wanted to try and do the research to get a concrete answer that question. I believe I have ...
forum.dcs.world forum.dcs.world
 
kqcke for you said:
Interresting development. I think it maybe is a good idea and maybe the actual export pardon too JATM for the near future given how its likely not gonna be exported anytime soon. This also could be used as an cheaper alternative for CCA
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I mean, if one of the -D variants is getting close to JATM Threshold range, it'd be a good backup plan.

How long did it take for the first AMRAAM export order? I know for the US, AMRAAMs were first deployed in 1991, just missed Desert Storm. When was the first non-US deployment? And who got it?
 
Scott Kenny said:
I mean, if one of the -D variants is getting close to JATM Threshold range, it'd be a good backup plan.

How long did it take for the first AMRAAM export order? I know for the US, AMRAAMs were first deployed in 1991, just missed Desert Storm. When was the first non-US deployment? And who got it?
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The earliest record I can find is the RN, who were conducting operational firings from the Sea Harrier FA2 in 1996, with test shots in 1993.

www.key.aero

Aeroplane Database: The BAe Sea Harrier in service

The aircraft that defined an era of front-line Fleet Air Arm operations — not least in the Falklands
www.key.aero www.key.aero

Sea Harrier FA2 first in-service firing of AMRAAM

M2 delivers news and press releases for partners around the world
m2.co.uk

This would make sense as the original agreement was that the USAF would take the lead on AMRAAM, while the UK and Germany would lead on ASRAAM.
 
Andreas Parsch said:
Using a single half-sentence of legalese in a document dated 13 September 2017 as the basis for a speculative article along the lines of "Maybe there is an AIM-120E in development" is quite wild even for TWZ standards.
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Isn't that TWZ standards? That said from my understanding when they asked it didn't get turned down but considering that it was uploaded 1. April....
 
"Last year we doubled [AMRAAM] production; we're doubling production again this year, and we're going to continue to increase that production." -Raytheon CEO Phil JasperRaytheon previously announced that the 1200/y MAX facilitization would be reached by the end of 2024. The USAF P-1 has 905 Lot 36 (FY22) missiles scheduled for delivery during FY25. If Raytheon moves beyond 1200/y that would be very significant, as it would really start to put a dent in the order backlog.
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1910384693280756155
View: https://x.com/ColbyBadhwar/status/1910384693280756155
 
SpudmanWP said:
The Aim-120D DOES NOT have a Dual Pulse motor.

1. ATK, the ONLY current maker of AMRAAM motors states that they only make two types of motors, the baseline and the PEP (extra 5 inches) motor introduced in the C5 model.


2. Here is the PEP doc


3. ATK just got (Oct 2009) a contract to develop the next generation of AMRAAM motor. One of the technologies they are researching is a dual pulse design. If it were already in the 120D, they would not have to develop it again.


I think where everyone gets the idea of the 120D having dual pulse is that the AMRAAM currently has a dual propellant motor. All AMRAAM motors have a "boost/sustain" grain type which may be the cause of the confusion.
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However, ATK(now northrop Grumman) seems to have stopped providing solid rocket motors for the AIM-120C7 and AIM-120D since 2012, and Nammo is now the only solid rocket motor supplier(AIM-120C7 and AIM-120D).
 
Yes, but just because it is no longer in production, it can still develop the next generation of engines.
 
Forest Green said:

Raytheon Boosts AMRAAM’s Range ‘Significantly,’ Mostly with Software Changes​

www.airandspaceforces.com

Raytheon Boosts AMRAAM’s Range with Software Changes

Changes that made the longest-ever AMRAAM missile shot possible are now in production missiles, Raytheon officials say.
www.airandspaceforces.com www.airandspaceforces.com
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I'm somewhat surprised that there are still performance gains to be had simply from software changes. Seems like that is low-hanging fruit that would already have been taken advantage of.
 
TomS said:
I'm somewhat surprised that there are still performance gains to be had simply from software changes. Seems like that is low-hanging fruit that would already have been taken advantage of.
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"extend the range of the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile using mostly software changes in experimental tests last year"

I think we already heard about it last year. (They didn't mention how far it flew then either.)
 
TomS said:
I'm somewhat surprised that there are still performance gains to be had simply from software changes. Seems like that is low-hanging fruit that would already have been taken advantage of.
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Depends on how dramatic the change to the code was, big software changes aren't free and it might have simply been a case of the funding not being made available until the last few years.
 

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