MILITARY AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS Part 2 AIR TO AIR MISSILES

Air to Air Missiles Are used to engage aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned air vehicles at short- to medium-range. In aircraft such as the Typhoon FGR4, targets are identified using the onboard radar and this data is fed to the weapon by the aircraft’s weapons system. In aircraft such as the Tornado GR4, where ASRAAM missiles are carried for self-defence, targets are identified visually and targeted using the missile’s infra-red seeker.

Air to Air Missiles are highly agile and travel at speeds in excess of Mach 4, but they are vulnerable to electronic and expendable countermeasures. Modern missiles are capable of guiding themselves to a target without the support of the launching aircraft.

Air to Air Missiles 10lb and 18lbs of high explosive, All Air-to-Air Missiles have payloads of between 10lb and 18lbs of high explosive, but are limited by the propellant available for their rocket motors. The general types of fuses used in Air-to-Air Guided Missiles are: Proximity and Contact fuses.

AIM-120 AMRAAM

AIM-120 AMRAAM Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile Incorporates an active radar with an inertial reference unit and a datalink microcomputer system. In a Beyond Visual Range (BVR) engagement, the AMRAAM is launched from a range of 20nm plus and is guided by its own inertial navigation system, while receiving updates via the data link. When it reaches the No Escape Zone a set distance from the target aircraft, the missile enters terminal guidance, where its own monopulse radar tracks the target and guides it to impact.

Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile AIM-120 AMRAAM Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile Fitted to : The Typhoon FGR4 The Tornado F3 Performance: Range: 20nm+ Speed: Mach 4 Sensor: Inertial & Active Radar Dimensions: Length: 3.66m Diameter: 0.18m Span: 0.53m Weight: 346lb 157kg

AIM-132 ASRAAM

AIM-132 ASRAAM Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile A highly manoeuvrable, Infra-Red (IR) guided, air-to-air missile able to counter sophisticated IR countermeasures. The first missile to use a sapphire-domed staring array detector, to detect the whole target aircraft. The missile has a fire-and-forget capability, thus the pilot can engage multiple targets with several missiles simultaneously. Following release, the missile accelerates in excess of Mach 3 whilst being guided using its IR seeker.

Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile AIM-132 ASRAAM Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile Fitted to : The Typhoon FGR4 The Tornado GR4 & F3 Performance: Range: 8nm+ Speed: Mach 3+ Sensor: IR staring array with inertial guidance Dimensions: Length: 2.9m Diameter: 0.17m Weight: 192lb 87kg

AIM-9L Sidewinder

AIM-9L Sidewinder Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile (Retired) Variants of the AIM-9 Sidewinder were the primary short-range air-to-air missile since the late 1960s, culminating with the AIM-9L replaced by ASRAAM. Sidewinder was a supersonic, IR-guided, short range, air-to-air missile, which homed on the heat signature of the target , and detonated with a laser-proximity fuse. Like ASRAAM, Sidewinder was a fire-and-forget missile, allowing pilots to fire several missiles at different targets within a very short time frame.

Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile (Retired) AIM-9L Sidewinder Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile (Retired) Fitted to : The Tornado GR4 The Hawk T1A Performance: Range: 6nm+ Speed: Mach 3+ Sensor: IR reticule seeker Dimensions: Length: 2.87m Diameter: 0.13m Weight: 186lb 84kg

METEOR

METEOR Beyond Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile Meteor is in the advanced stages of development and will enter RAF service from 2015. Designed around an air breathing ramjet to boost the weapon away from the launch aircraft and then remain under power until warhead detonation. This gives it the energy to pursue and destroy the fastest and most agile aircraft at range. Its warhead carries impact and proximity fuses so targets can be destroyed even if the missile does not score a direct hit.

Beyond Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile METEOR Beyond Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile Fitted to : The Typhoon FGR4 Performance: Range: 60nm+ Speed: Mach 4+ Sensor: Inertial & Active Radar Dimensions: Length: 3.67m Diameter: 0.18m Weight: 408lb 185kg

Skyflash

Skyflash Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (Retired) It was the primary medium-range air-to-air missile until its replacement with the AIM-120 AMRAAM. Skyflash used semi-active homing, where the launch aircraft illuminated the target and the missile used its own radar receiver to home in on the reflected energy. Although Skyflash was primarily a BVR missile, it could also be employed at shorter ranges to ensure quick reaction times and maximum manoeuvrability after launch.

Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (Retired) Skyflash Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (Retired) Fitted to : The Tornado F3 (Retired) Performance: Range: 20nm+ Speed: Mach 4 Sensor: Semi-Active Radar Homing Dimensions: Length: 3.66m Diameter: 0.21m Span: 1.02m Weight: 458lb 208kg

Check of Understanding Which of the following is a capability of the ASRAAM? Radar-guidance Medium range Infra-red guidance Anti shipping

Check of Understanding Identify this air-launched weapon? Skyflash AMRAAM ASRAAM Sidewinder

Check of Understanding What is the typical range of a Short Range missile? 12 to 15+ nm 6 to 8+ nm 3 to 5+ nm 20+ nm

Check of Understanding Identify this weapon being loaded on the aircraft? Sidewinder Skyflash Meteor Maverick

Check of Understanding The AIM-120 AMRAAM is steered to its target by: Passive on-board radar The attacking aircraft Active on-board radar Video display

Check of Understanding Identify this air-launched weapon? ASRAAM Meteor Skyflash AMRAAM

Check of Understanding Which missile is a fire-and-forget 'dogfight' missile? Meteor Sidewinder AMRAAM ASRAAM

Check of Understanding What weapon is on the wing of this aircraft? Skyflash Sidewinder ASRAAM AMRAAM

Check of Understanding SKYFLASH has semi-active homing which is where the launch aircraft . . . Illuminates and guides the missile to the target. Requires ground units to illuminate the target. Illuminates the target and the missile using its own radar receiver to home on the reflected energy. Fires and forgets.

Check of Understanding Identify this air-launched weapon? ASRAAM AMRAAM Skyflash Meteor

Check of Understanding What does the abbreviation AMRAAM stand for? Advanced Medium Range Anti-Aircraft Missile Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile Advanced Military Reusable Air to Air Missile Advanced Military Retractable Air to Air Missile

Check of Understanding Identify this weapon; Meteor Sidewinder ASRAAM AMRAAM

Check of Understanding The payload of air-to-air missiles generally contain between: 25 lbs and 30 lbs of high explosive 18 lbs and 25 lbs of high explosive 10 lbs and 18 lbs of high explosive 5 lbs and 10 lbs of high explosive

Check of Understanding Identify this weapon; Meteor Sidewinder Skyflash AMRAAM

Check of Understanding The AIM-9L Sidewinder missile is steered to its target by: Radar Light Heat Sound

MILITARY AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS End of Presentation