1. Military Aircraft Systems
Uncontrolled copy not subject to amendment
Military Aircraft Systems
Air-to-air Ordnance
Lesson 4
405. Revision. Homing guidance systems
407. Introduction. An air-to-air missile (AAM) is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft. AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid fuelled but sometimes liquid fuelled. Ramjet engines, as used on the Meteor (missile) are emerging as propulsion that will enable future medium-range missiles to maintain higher average speed across their engagement envelope.
Slide 1
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2. Objectives Explain: The history of air-to-air missiles
The concept of "dogfight" and beyond-visual-range weapons
Types of countermeasure
The details of:
Meteor
AMRAAM
ASRAAM
Sidewinder
Sky Flash
406. Objectives. Explain:
The history of air-to-air missiles
The concept of "dogfight" and beyond-visual-range weapons
Types of countermeasure
The details of:
Meteor
AMRAAM
ASRAAM
Sidewinder
Sky Flash

3. History
World War I - Unguided rockets used in the air-to-air role, fired electronically from biplanes and balloons
World War II – Germany faced Allied air superiority so created weapons like the Ruhrstahl X-4
History
408. The air-to-air missile grew out of the unguided air-to-air rockets used during the First World War. Rockets were sometimes attached to the struts of biplanes and fired electrically, usually against observation balloons. Facing Allied air superiority in World War II, Germany invested considerable effort into missile research, using unguided rockets first and later the first guided missiles like the Ruhrstahl X-4.
409. The US Navy and US Air Force began equipping guided missiles in 1956, deploying the USAF's AIM-4 Falcon and the USN's AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-9 Sidewinder. As missile systems have continued to advance, modern air warfare consists almost entirely of missile firing. The faith in long range missiles became so pervasive in the US that early F-4 variants were armed only with missiles in the 1960s. High casualty rates during the Vietnam War caused the US to reintroduce auto-cannon and traditional dogfighting tactics but the missile remains the primary weapon in air combat.
410. In the Falklands War British Harriers, using upgraded Sidewinder missiles were able to defeat faster Argentinean opponents.

4. History Ruhrstahl X-4 World War II German Prototype Air-to-air Missile
408. The air-to-air missile grew out of the unguided air-to-air rockets used during the First World War. Rockets were sometimes attached to the struts of biplanes and fired electrically, usually against observation balloons. Facing Allied air superiority in World War II, Germany invested considerable effort into missile research, using unguided rockets first and later the first guided missiles like the Ruhrstahl X-4.
409. The US Navy and US Air Force began equipping guided missiles in 1956, deploying the USAF's AIM-4 Falcon and the USN's AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-9 Sidewinder. As missile systems have continued to advance, modern air warfare consists almost entirely of missile firing. The faith in long range missiles became so pervasive in the US that early F-4 variants were armed only with missiles in the 1960s. High casualty rates during the Vietnam War caused the US to reintroduce auto-cannon and traditional dogfighting tactics but the missile remains the primary weapon in air combat.
410. In the Falklands War British Harriers, using upgraded Sidewinder missiles were able to defeat faster Argentinean opponents.
Ruhrstahl X-4
World War II German Prototype Air-to-air Missile

5. History
World War I - Unguided rockets used in the air-to-air role, fired electronically from biplanes and balloons
World War II – Germany faced Allied air superiority so created weapons like the Ruhrstahl X-4
Cold War – US developed weapons in the 50’s:
USAF – AIM-4 Falcon
History
408. The air-to-air missile grew out of the unguided air-to-air rockets used during the First World War. Rockets were sometimes attached to the struts of biplanes and fired electrically, usually against observation balloons. Facing Allied air superiority in World War II, Germany invested considerable effort into missile research, using unguided rockets first and later the first guided missiles like the Ruhrstahl X-4.
409. The US Navy and US Air Force began equipping guided missiles in 1956, deploying the USAF's AIM-4 Falcon and the USN's AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-9 Sidewinder. As missile systems have continued to advance, modern air warfare consists almost entirely of missile firing. The faith in long range missiles became so pervasive in the US that early F-4 variants were armed only with missiles in the 1960s. High casualty rates during the Vietnam War caused the US to reintroduce auto-cannon and traditional dogfighting tactics but the missile remains the primary weapon in air combat.
410. In the Falklands War British Harriers, using upgraded Sidewinder missiles were able to defeat faster Argentinean opponents.

6. History AIM-4 Falcon Cold War USAF Air-to-air Missile History
408. The air-to-air missile grew out of the unguided air-to-air rockets used during the First World War. Rockets were sometimes attached to the struts of biplanes and fired electrically, usually against observation balloons. Facing Allied air superiority in World War II, Germany invested considerable effort into missile research, using unguided rockets first and later the first guided missiles like the Ruhrstahl X-4.
409. The US Navy and US Air Force began equipping guided missiles in 1956, deploying the USAF's AIM-4 Falcon and the USN's AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-9 Sidewinder. As missile systems have continued to advance, modern air warfare consists almost entirely of missile firing. The faith in long range missiles became so pervasive in the US that early F-4 variants were armed only with missiles in the 1960s. High casualty rates during the Vietnam War caused the US to reintroduce auto-cannon and traditional dogfighting tactics but the missile remains the primary weapon in air combat.
410. In the Falklands War British Harriers, using upgraded Sidewinder missiles were able to defeat faster Argentinean opponents.
AIM-4 Falcon
Cold War USAF Air-to-air Missile

7. History
World War I - Unguided rockets used in the air-to-air role, fired electronically from biplanes and balloons
World War II – Germany faced Allied air superiority so created weapons like the Ruhrstahl X-4
Cold War – US developed weapons in the 50’s:
USAF – AIM-4 Falcon
USN – AIM-9 Sidewinder
History
408. The air-to-air missile grew out of the unguided air-to-air rockets used during the First World War. Rockets were sometimes attached to the struts of biplanes and fired electrically, usually against observation balloons. Facing Allied air superiority in World War II, Germany invested considerable effort into missile research, using unguided rockets first and later the first guided missiles like the Ruhrstahl X-4.
409. The US Navy and US Air Force began equipping guided missiles in 1956, deploying the USAF's AIM-4 Falcon and the USN's AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-9 Sidewinder. As missile systems have continued to advance, modern air warfare consists almost entirely of missile firing. The faith in long range missiles became so pervasive in the US that early F-4 variants were armed only with missiles in the 1960s. High casualty rates during the Vietnam War caused the US to reintroduce auto-cannon and traditional dogfighting tactics but the missile remains the primary weapon in air combat.
410. In the Falklands War British Harriers, using upgraded Sidewinder missiles were able to defeat faster Argentinean opponents.

8. History AIM-9 Sidewinder US Air-to-air Missile History
408. The air-to-air missile grew out of the unguided air-to-air rockets used during the First World War. Rockets were sometimes attached to the struts of biplanes and fired electrically, usually against observation balloons. Facing Allied air superiority in World War II, Germany invested considerable effort into missile research, using unguided rockets first and later the first guided missiles like the Ruhrstahl X-4.
409. The US Navy and US Air Force began equipping guided missiles in 1956, deploying the USAF's AIM-4 Falcon and the USN's AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-9 Sidewinder. As missile systems have continued to advance, modern air warfare consists almost entirely of missile firing. The faith in long range missiles became so pervasive in the US that early F-4 variants were armed only with missiles in the 1960s. High casualty rates during the Vietnam War caused the US to reintroduce auto-cannon and traditional dogfighting tactics but the missile remains the primary weapon in air combat.
410. In the Falklands War British Harriers, using upgraded Sidewinder missiles were able to defeat faster Argentinean opponents.
AIM-9 Sidewinder
US Air-to-air Missile

9. History
World War I - Unguided rockets used in the air-to-air role, fired electronically from biplanes and balloons
World War II – Germany faced Allied air superiority so created weapons like the Ruhrstahl X-4
Cold War – US developed weapons in the 50’s:
USAF – AIM-4 Falcon
USN – AIM-9 Sidewinder
Early F-4 actually made without a gun
In the Falklands British Harriers could defeat Argentinian opponents using upgraded Sidewinders
History
408. The air-to-air missile grew out of the unguided air-to-air rockets used during the First World War. Rockets were sometimes attached to the struts of biplanes and fired electrically, usually against observation balloons. Facing Allied air superiority in World War II, Germany invested considerable effort into missile research, using unguided rockets first and later the first guided missiles like the Ruhrstahl X-4.
409. The US Navy and US Air Force began equipping guided missiles in 1956, deploying the USAF's AIM-4 Falcon and the USN's AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-9 Sidewinder. As missile systems have continued to advance, modern air warfare consists almost entirely of missile firing. The faith in long range missiles became so pervasive in the US that early F-4 variants were armed only with missiles in the 1960s. High casualty rates during the Vietnam War caused the US to reintroduce auto-cannon and traditional dogfighting tactics but the missile remains the primary weapon in air combat.
410. In the Falklands War British Harriers, using upgraded Sidewinder missiles were able to defeat faster Argentinean opponents.

10. Types Short-ranged Less than 30km range Within visual range
Range less important than agility
Often IR guided
Known as
SRAAM
WVRAAM
Dogfight missiles
412. Types. Air-to-air missiles belong to two broad groups.
Those designed to engage opposing aircraft at ranges of less than 30 km are known as short-range or "within visual range" missiles (SRAAMs or WVRAAMs) and are sometimes called "dogfight" missiles because they are designed to optimize their agility rather than range. Most use infrared guidance and are called heat-seeking missiles.
In contrast, medium- or long-range missiles (MRAAMs or LRAAMs), which both fall under the category of beyond visual range missiles (BVRAAMs), tend to rely upon radar guidance, of which there are many forms. Some modern ones use inertial guidance and/or "mid- course updates" to get the missile close enough to use an active homing sensor.

11. Types Short-ranged Medium- and Long-ranged Beyond visual range
Usually radar-guided
May also inertial guidance and/or mid-course updates from the launch aircraft
May be called:
BVRAAMs
MRAAMs
LRAAMs
412. Types. Air-to-air missiles belong to two broad groups.
Those designed to engage opposing aircraft at ranges of less than 30 km are known as short-range or "within visual range" missiles (SRAAMs or WVRAAMs) and are sometimes called "dogfight" missiles because they are designed to optimize their agility rather than range. Most use infrared guidance and are called heat-seeking missiles.
In contrast, medium- or long-range missiles (MRAAMs or LRAAMs), which both fall under the category of beyond visual range missiles (BVRAAMs), tend to rely upon radar guidance, of which there are many forms. Some modern ones use inertial guidance and/or "mid- course updates" to get the missile close enough to use an active homing sensor.

12. Countermeasures Carried to protect against AAMs
Create a better target than the actual aircraft
Chaff:
Used against radar-guided missiles
Cloud of metal strips to reflect radar
Flares:
Used against IR missiles
Create a much hotter target
412. Types of countermeasure. As most air-to-air (and surface-to-air) missiles use either infra-red or radar guidance, aircraft often carry countermeasures to protect themselves. The basic form of countermeasure is to create a target that is more prominent than the aircraft, in the hope that the missile will follow the countermeasure instead of the aircraft.
Chaff. Against radar (active or semi-active) guided weapons chaff is deployed – in its simplest form it is a cloud of metal foil strips that creates a huge radar reflector.
Flares. Against passive infra-red guided missiles flares can be deployed – these create a heat source much more intense than the engines of the aircraft.
Physical countermeasures such as chaff and flares and electronic countermeasures (ECM) such as jamming are combined together in to an integrated Defensive Aids Suite (DAS).

13. Weapons

14. Weapons Sidewinder WVRAAM (retired) 413. Sidewinder. (Retired)
Sidewinder is a supersonic, heat-seeking, short range, air-to-air missile with a IR seeker that guides the missile to impact by homing on the engine exhaust of the target aircraft. IR homing allows the missile to be used by day or by night and in electronic countermeasure conditions.
The Sidewinder is a fire-and-forget ‘dogfight’ missile, allowing the pilot to fire several missiles at different targets within a very short time frame. The continuous-rod warhead is a specialized munition that creates a circular blast fragmentation pattern, so that when it explodes it spreads into a large circle that cuts the target.
Entering service in 1956, variants and upgrades remain in active service with many air forces after five decades.
Engine Rocket motor
Range 11+ km
Launch weight 84 kg
Speed Mach 3
Warhead Continuous-rod fragmentation
Guidance Passive IR
Aircraft Tornado
Sidewinder
WVRAAM (retired)

15. Continuous-rod fragmentation
Weapons
Engine
Range
Launch Weight
Speed
Warhead
Guidance
Aircraft
Rocket
11+ km
84 kg
Mach 3
Continuous-rod fragmentation
Passive IR
Tornado
413. Sidewinder. (Retired)
Sidewinder is a supersonic, heat-seeking, short range, air-to-air missile with a IR seeker that guides the missile to impact by homing on the engine exhaust of the target aircraft. IR homing allows the missile to be used by day or by night and in electronic countermeasure conditions.
The Sidewinder is a fire-and-forget ‘dogfight’ missile, allowing the pilot to fire several missiles at different targets within a very short time frame. The continuous-rod warhead is a specialized munition that creates a circular blast fragmentation pattern, so that when it explodes it spreads into a large circle that cuts the target.
Entering service in 1956, variants and upgrades remain in active service with many air forces after five decades.
Engine Rocket motor
Range 11+ km
Launch weight 84 kg
Speed Mach 3
Warhead Continuous-rod fragmentation
Guidance Passive IR
Aircraft Tornado
Sidewinder
WVRAAM (retired)

16. Weapons Skyflash BVRAAM (retired) 414. Sky Flash. (Retired)
Skyflash is a medium-range, all-weather, air-to-air missile able to engage targets at ultra-high or low level in a variety of countermeasure environments. It was based on the US-made AIM-7 Sparrow missile.
The missile uses semi-active homing, where the launch aircraft illuminates the target and the missile uses its own radar receiver to home on the reflected energy. Although Skyflash is primarily a BVR missile, it can also be employed at shorter ranges to ensure quick reaction times and maximum manoeuvrability after it has been launched.
Engine Rocket motor
Range 40 km
Launch weight 208 kg
Speed Mach 2 +
Warhead 40 kg fragmentation
Guidance Inertial mid-course, semi-active radar
Aircraft Tornado F3
Skyflash
BVRAAM (retired)

17. INS, GPS TERPROM; terminal IR
Weapons
Engine
Range
Launch Weight
Speed
Warhead
Guidance
Aircraft
Rocket
40 km
208 kg
> Mach 2
40 kg fragmentation
INS, GPS TERPROM; terminal IR
Tornado
414. Sky Flash. (Retired)
Skyflash is a medium-range, all-weather, air-to-air missile able to engage targets at ultra-high or low level in a variety of countermeasure environments. It was based on the US-made AIM-7 Sparrow missile.
The missile uses semi-active homing, where the launch aircraft illuminates the target and the missile uses its own radar receiver to home on the reflected energy. Although Skyflash is primarily a BVR missile, it can also be employed at shorter ranges to ensure quick reaction times and maximum manoeuvrability after it has been launched.
Engine Rocket motor
Range 40 km
Launch weight 208 kg
Speed Mach 2 +
Warhead 40 kg fragmentation
Guidance Inertial mid-course, semi-active radar
Aircraft Tornado F3
Skyflash
BVRAAM (retired)

18. Weapons ASRAAM WVRAAM 415. ASRAAM
The Aim-132 ASRAAM is a highly manoeuvrable, heat-seeking, air- to-air missile able to counter sophisticated infrared (IR) countermeasures. The missile is the world’s first IR missile to use a sapphire-domed staring array detector, which detects the whole target aircraft – because it 'sees' the aircraft it is not fooled by flares.
The missile has a fire-and-forget capability, thus the pilot can engage multiple targets with several missiles simultaneously. Following release, the missile accelerates to speeds in excess of Mach 3 whilst being guided to the target using its IR seeker.
Engine Rocket motor
Range 15 km
Launch weight 87 kg
Speed Mach 3+
Warhead 10 kg fragmentation with laser proximity fuze
Guidance Passive IR (imaging IR)
Aircraft Typhoon and Tornado
ASRAAM
WVRAAM

19. 10 kg HE, laser proximity fuze
Weapons
Engine
Range
Launch Weight
Speed
Warhead
Guidance
Aircraft
Rocket
15 km
87 kg
> Mach 3
10 kg HE, laser proximity fuze
Imaging IR
Typhoon & Tornado
415. ASRAAM
The Aim-132 ASRAAM is a highly manoeuvrable, heat-seeking, air- to-air missile able to counter sophisticated infrared (IR) countermeasures. The missile is the world’s first IR missile to use a sapphire-domed staring array detector, which detects the whole target aircraft – because it 'sees' the aircraft it is not fooled by flares.
The missile has a fire-and-forget capability, thus the pilot can engage multiple targets with several missiles simultaneously. Following release, the missile accelerates to speeds in excess of Mach 3 whilst being guided to the target using its IR seeker.
Engine Rocket motor
Range 15 km
Launch weight 87 kg
Speed Mach 3+
Warhead 10 kg fragmentation with laser proximity fuze
Guidance Passive IR (imaging IR)
Aircraft Typhoon and Tornado
ASRAAM
WVRAAM

20. Weapons AMRAAM BVRAAM 416. AMRAAM
The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM (pronounced "am-ram"), is a modern beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) capable of all-weather day-and-night operations. Designed with the same form-and-fit factors as the previous generation of semi-active guided Sparrow missiles (on which the Skyflash was based), it is a fire-and-forget missile with active guidance.
AMRAAM uses two-stage guidance when fired at long range. The aircraft passes data to the missile just before launch, giving it information about the location of the target aircraft from the launch point and its direction and speed. The missile uses this information to fly on an interception course to the target using its built in inertial navigation system (INS). This information is generally obtained using the launching aircraft's radar, although it could come from an Infra- red search and track system, from a data link from another fighter aircraft, or from an AWACS aircraft.
Engine Rocket motor
Range 40+ km
Launch weight 150 kg
Speed Mach 4
Warhead 18 kg fragmentation
Guidance
Midcourse INS with datalink updates
Terminal Active radar
Aircraft Typhoon
AMRAAM
BVRAAM

21. INS with datalink; terminal active radar
Weapons
Engine
Range
Launch Weight
Speed
Warhead
Guidance
Aircraft
Rocket
>40 km
150 kg
Mach 4
18 kg fragmentation
INS with datalink; terminal active radar
Typhoon
416. AMRAAM
The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM (pronounced "am-ram"), is a modern beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) capable of all-weather day-and-night operations. Designed with the same form-and-fit factors as the previous generation of semi-active guided Sparrow missiles (on which the Skyflash was based), it is a fire-and-forget missile with active guidance.
AMRAAM uses two-stage guidance when fired at long range. The aircraft passes data to the missile just before launch, giving it information about the location of the target aircraft from the launch point and its direction and speed. The missile uses this information to fly on an interception course to the target using its built in inertial navigation system (INS). This information is generally obtained using the launching aircraft's radar, although it could come from an Infra- red search and track system, from a data link from another fighter aircraft, or from an AWACS aircraft.
Engine Rocket motor
Range 40+ km
Launch weight 150 kg
Speed Mach 4
Warhead 18 kg fragmentation
Guidance
Midcourse INS with datalink updates
Terminal Active radar
Aircraft Typhoon
AMRAAM
BVRAAM

22. Weapons Meteor BVRAAM 417. Meteor
The Meteor missile is expected to enter service on RAF Typhoon aircraft early next decade.
Meteor is designed around an air breathing ramjet which boosts the weapon away from the launch aircraft and then remains under power until warhead detonation, giving the missile 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.
Engine Solid-fuel ram jet
Range 300+ km
Launch weight 185 kg
Speed Mach 4+
Warhead Fragmentation
Guidance
Midcourse INS with datalink updates
Terminal Active radar
Aircraft Typhoon
Meteor
BVRAAM

23. INS with datalink; terminal active radar
Weapons
Engine
Range
Launch Weight
Speed
Warhead
Guidance
Aircraft
Solid-fuel ramjet
>300 km
185 kg
> Mach 4
Fragmentation
INS with datalink; terminal active radar
Typhoon
417. Meteor
The Meteor missile is expected to enter service on RAF Typhoon aircraft early next decade.
Meteor is designed around an air breathing ramjet which boosts the weapon away from the launch aircraft and then remains under power until warhead detonation, giving the missile 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.
Engine Solid-fuel ram jet
Range 300+ km
Launch weight 185 kg
Speed Mach 4+
Warhead Fragmentation
Guidance
Midcourse INS with datalink updates
Terminal Active radar
Aircraft Typhoon
Meteor
BVRAAM

24. Objectives Explain: The history of air-to-air missiles
The concept of "dogfight" and beyond-visual-range weapons
Types of countermeasure
The details of:
Meteor
AMRAAM
ASRAAM
Sidewinder
Sky Flash
406. Objectives. Explain:
The history of air-to-air missiles
The concept of "dogfight" and beyond-visual-range weapons
Types of countermeasure
The details of:
Meteor
AMRAAM
ASRAAM
Sidewinder
Sky Flash