1. MILITARY AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS
Part 2
AIR TO AIR MISSILES

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. AIM-120 AMRAAM

6. 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.

7. 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

8. AIM-132 ASRAAM

9. 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.

10. 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

11. AIM-9L Sidewinder

12. 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.

13. 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

14. METEOR

15. 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.

16. 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

17. Skyflash

18. 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.

19. 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

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

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

22. 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

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

24. 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

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

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

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

28. 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.

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

30. 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

31. Check of Understanding
Identify this weapon;
Meteor
Sidewinder
ASRAAM
AMRAAM

32. 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

33. Check of Understanding
Identify this weapon;
Meteor
Sidewinder
Skyflash
AMRAAM

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

35. MILITARY AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS
End of Presentation