Wikipedia

Air-to-air missile

(Redirected from Air-to-Air Missile)

An air-to-air missile (AAM) is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft (including unmanned aircraft such as cruise missiles). AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid fueled but sometimes liquid fueled. Ramjet engines, as used on the Meteor, are emerging as propulsion that will enable future medium- to long-range missiles to maintain higher average speed across their engagement envelope.

Gökdoğan (displayed lower-front) active radar homing BVR air-to-air missile and Bozdoğan (displayed lower-back) infrared homing short-range air-to-air missile side by aide at the IDEF 2019 in Istanbul, Turkey.
A USAF F-22 fires an AIM-120 AMRAAM
Ramjet powered Meteor for Saab 39 Gripen, Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets.

Air-to-air missiles are broadly put in two groups. Those designed to engage opposing aircraft at ranges of around 30 km[1][2] to 40 km[3][2] maximum 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.[1][3] 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. The concepts of air-to-air missiles and surface-to-air missiles are closely related, and in some cases versions of the same weapon may be used for both roles, such as the ASRAAM and Sea Ceptor.

History

edit
 
Ruhrstahl X-4 in RAF Museum Cosford

The air-to-air missile grew out of the unguided air-to-air rockets used during the First World War. Le Prieur rockets were sometimes attached to the struts of biplanes and fired electrically, usually against observation balloons, by such early pilots as Albert Ball and A. M. Walters.[4] Facing the Allied air superiority, Germany in World War II invested limited effort into missile research, initially adapting the projectile of the unguided 21 cm Nebelwerfer 42 infantry barrage rocket system into the air-launched BR 21 anti-aircraft rocket in 1943; leading to the deployment of the R4M unguided rocket and the development of various guided missile prototypes such as the Ruhrstahl X-4.

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. Post-war research led the Royal Air Force to introduce Fairey Fireflash into service in 1957 but their results were unsuccessful. The Soviet Air Force introduced its K-5 into service in 1957. As missile systems have continued to advance, modern air warfare consists almost entirely of missile firing. The use of beyond-visual-range combat 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 autocannon and traditional dogfighting tactics but the missile remains the primary weapon in air combat.

In the Falklands War British Harriers, using AIM-9L missiles were able to defeat faster Argentinian opponents.[5] Since the late 20th century all-aspect heat-seeking designs can lock-on to a target from various angles, not just from behind, where the heat signature from the engines is strongest. Other types rely on radar guidance (either on-board or "painted" by the launching aircraft).

Use of air-to-air missiles as surface-to-air missiles

edit
 
An AIM-120 dummy missile on a rail extending from the NASAMS canister

In 1999 R-73 missile were adapted by Serb forces for surface to air missiles. The Houthi movement Missile Research and Development Centre and the Missile Force have tried to fire R-27/R-60/R-73/R-77 against Saudi aircraft. Using stockpiles of missiles from Yemeni Air Force stocks. The issue for the R-27 and R-77 is the lack of a radar to support their guidance to the target. However the R-73 and R-60 are infra-red heat seeking missiles. They only require, power, liquid nitrogen "to cool the seeker head" and a pylon to launch the missile. These missiles have been paired with a "US made FLIR Systems ULTRA 8500 turrets". Only one near miss has been verified and that was a R-27T fired at Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SA. However the drawback is that these missiles are intended to be fired from one jet fighter against another. So the motors and fuel load are smaller than a purpose built surface to air missile.[6]

On the Western side, the Norwegian-American made NASAMS air defense system has been developed for using AIM-9 Sidewinder, IRIS-T and AMRAAM air-to-air missiles to intercept targets. None of these missiles require modifications and hence it is possible for the system to take missiles straight from an aircraft. After a live-fire test occurred in September 2020 off the coasts of Florida, during which it successfully engaged a simulated cruise missile, in 2022 NASAMS was deployed to Ukraine, where for the first time this missile system was used in real combat conditions, and, according to Ukrainian government, was able to shot down more than 100 aerial targets.[7]

Warhead

edit
 
AIM-9L Captive Air Training Missile (CATM) with rocket motor and inert warhead for training.

A conventional explosive blast warhead, fragmentation warhead, or continuous rod warhead (or a combination of any of those three warhead types) is typically used in the attempt to disable or destroy the target aircraft. Warheads are typically detonated by a proximity fuze or by an impact fuze if it scores a direct hit. Less commonly, nuclear warheads have been mounted on a small number of air-to-air missile types (such as the AIM-26 Falcon) although these are not known to have ever been used in combat.

Guidance

edit
See also: Missile guidance

Guided missiles operate by detecting their target (usually by either radar or infrared methods, although rarely others such as laser guidance or optical tracking), and then "homing" in on the target on a collision course.

Although the missile may use radar or infra-red guidance to home on the target, the launching aircraft may detect and track the target before launch by other means. Infra-red guided missiles can be "slaved" to an attack radar in order to find the target and radar-guided missiles can be launched at targets detected visually or via an infra-red search and track (IRST) system, although they may require the attack radar to illuminate the target during part or all of the missile interception itself.

Radar guidance

edit

Radar guidance is normally used for medium- or long-range missiles, where the infra-red signature of the target would be too faint for an infra-red detector to track. There are three major types of radar-guided missile – active, semi-active, and passive.

Radar-guided missiles can be countered by rapid maneuvering (which may result in them "breaking lock", or may cause them to overshoot), deploying chaff or using electronic counter-measures.

Active radar homing

edit
Main article: Active radar homing
 
Active radar seeker Head of Vympel R-77 at 2009 MAKS Airshow

Active radar (AR)-guided missiles carry their own radar system to detect and track their target. However, the size of the radar antenna is limited by the small diameter of missiles, limiting its range which typically means such missiles are launched at a predicted future location of the target, often relying on separate guidance systems such as Global Positioning System, inertial guidance, or a mid-course update from either the launching aircraft or other system that can communicate with the missile to get the missile close to the target. At a predetermined point (frequently based on time since launch or arrival near the predicted target location) the missile's radar system is activated (the missile is said to "go active"), and the missile then homes in on the target.

If the range from the attacking aircraft to the target is within the range of the missile's radar system, the missile can "go active" immediately upon launch.

The great advantage of an active radar homing system is that it enables a "fire-and-forget" mode of attack, where the attacking aircraft is free to pursue other targets or escape the area after launching the missile.

Semi-active radar homing

edit
 
Two F-15Es from the 90th Fighter Squadron USAF, from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, fire a pair of semi-active radar homing AIM-7Ms during a training mission.
Main article: Semi-active radar homing

Semi-active radar homing (SARH) guided missiles are simpler and more common. They function by detecting radar energy reflected from the target. The radar energy is emitted from the launching aircraft's own radar system.

However, this means that the launch aircraft has to maintain a "lock" on the target (keep illuminating the target aircraft with its own radar) until the missile makes the interception. This limits the attacking aircraft's ability to maneuver, which may be necessary should threats to the attacking aircraft appear.

An advantage of SARH-guided missiles is that they are homing on the reflected radar signal, so accuracy actually increases as the missile gets closer because the reflection comes from a "point source": the target. Against this, if there are multiple targets, each will be reflecting the same radar signal and the missile may become confused as to which target is its intended victim. The missile may well be unable to pick a specific target and fly through a formation without passing within lethal range of any specific aircraft. Newer missiles have logic circuits in their guidance systems to help prevent this problem.

At the same time, jamming the missile lock-on is easier because the launching aircraft is further from the target than the missile, so the radar signal has to travel further and is greatly attenuated over the distance. This means that the missile may be jammed or "spoofed" by countermeasures whose signals grow stronger as the missile gets closer. One counter to this is a "home on jam" capability in the missile that allows it to home in on the jamming signal.

Beam riding

edit
Main article: Beam riding
 
A beam riding K-5 (missile) air-to-air missile on MiG-19. (Displayed in the Military History Museum and Park in Kecel, Hungary)

An early form of radar guidance was "beam-riding" (BR). In this method, the attacking aircraft directs a narrow beam of radar energy at the target. The air-to-air missile was launched into the beam, where sensors on the aft of the missile controlled the missile, keeping it within the beam. So long as the beam was kept on the target aircraft, the missile would ride the beam until making the interception.

While conceptually simple, the move is hard because of the challenge of simultaneously keeping the beam solidly on the target (which could not be relied upon to cooperate by flying straight and level), continuing to fly one's own aircraft, and monitoring enemy countermeasures.

An added complication was that the beam will spread out into a cone shape as the distance from the attacking aircraft increases. This will result in less accuracy for the missile because the beam may actually be larger than the target aircraft when the missile arrives. The missile could be securely within the beam but still not be close enough to destroy the target.

Infrared guidance

edit
Main article: Infrared homing
 
Infrared homing seeker head of MAA-1 Piranha
 
An infrared homing Python-5 AAM being fired from HAL Tejas fighter

Infrared guided (IR) missiles home on the heat produced by an aircraft. Early infra-red detectors had poor sensitivity, so could only track the hot exhaust pipes of an aircraft. This meant an attacking aircraft had to maneuver to a position behind its target before it could fire an infra-red guided missile. This also limited the range of the missile as the infra-red signature soon become too small to detect with increasing distance and after launch the missile was playing "catch-up" with its target. Early infrared seekers were unusable in clouds or rain (which is still a limitation to some degree) and could be distracted by the sun, a reflection of the sun off of a cloud or ground object, or any other "hot" object within its view.

More modern infra-red guided missiles can detect the heat of an aircraft's skin, warmed by the friction of airflow, in addition to the fainter heat signature of the engine when the aircraft is seen from the side or head-on. This, combined with greater maneuverability, gives them an "all-aspect" capability, and an attacking aircraft no longer had to be behind its target to fire. Although launching from behind the target increases the probability of a hit, the launching aircraft usually has to be closer to the target in such a tail-chase engagement.

An aircraft can defend against infra-red missiles by dropping flares that are hotter than the aircraft, so the missile homes in on the brighter, hotter target. In turn, IR missiles may employ filters to enable it to ignore targets whose temperature is not within a specified range.

Towed decoys which closely mimic engine heat and infra-red jammers can also be used. Some large aircraft and many combat helicopters make use of so-called "hot brick" infra-red jammers, typically mounted near the engines. Current research is developing laser devices which can spoof or destroy the guidance systems of infra-red guided missiles. See Infrared countermeasure.

Start of the 21st century missiles such as the ASRAAM use an "imaging infrared" seeker which "sees" the target (much like a digital video camera), and can distinguish between an aircraft and a point heat source such as a flare. They also feature a very wide detection angle, so the attacking aircraft does not have to be pointing straight at the target for the missile to lock on. The pilot can use a helmet mounted sight (HMS) and target another aircraft by looking at it, and then firing. This is called "off-boresight" launch. For example, the Russian Su-27 is equipped with an infra-red search and track (IRST) system with laser rangefinder for its HMS-aimed missiles.

Electro-optical

edit

A recent advancement in missile guidance is electro-optical imaging. The Israeli Python-5 has an electro-optical seeker that scans designated area for targets via optical imaging. Once a target is acquired, the missile will lock-on to it for the kill. Electro-optical seekers can be programmed to target vital area of an aircraft, such as the cockpit. Since it does not depend on the target aircraft's heat signature, it can be used against low-heat targets such as UAVs and cruise missiles. However, clouds can get in the way of electro-optical sensors.[8]

Passive anti-radiation

edit
Main article: Anti-radiation missile

Evolving missile guidance designs are converting the anti-radiation missile (ARM) design, pioneered during Vietnam and used to home in against emitting surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites, to an air intercept weapon. Current air-to-air passive anti-radiation missile development is thought to be a countermeasure to airborne early warning and control (AEW&C – also known as AEW or AWACS) aircraft which typically mount powerful search radars.

Due to their dependence on target aircraft radar emissions, when used against fighter aircraft passive anti-radiation missiles are primarily limited to forward-aspect intercept geometry.[9] For examples, see Vympel R-27 and Brazo.

Another aspect of passive anti-radiation homing is the "home on jam" mode which, when installed, allows a radar-guided missile to home in on the jammer of the target aircraft if the primary seeker is jammed by the electronic countermeasures of the target aircraft.

Design

edit
 
Scramjet engine powered R-37M (under the export designation RVV-BD) long range hypersonic BVR missile at 2013 MAKS Airshow.
 
T129 ATAK helicopter with two very short range Air-to-Air Stinger missiles mounted under-wing. The helicopter launched missile is developed from the FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS.

Air-to-air missiles are typically long, thin cylinders in order to reduce their cross section and thus minimize drag at the high speeds at which they travel. Missiles are divided into five primary systems (moving forward to aft): seeker, guidance, warhead, motor, and control actuation.

At the front is the seeker, either a radar system, radar homer, or infra-red detector. Behind that lies the avionics which control the missile. Typically after that, in the centre of the missile, is the warhead, usually several kilograms of high explosive surrounded by metal that fragments on detonation (or in some cases, pre-fragmented metal).

The rear part of the missile contains the propulsion system, usually a rocket of some type and the control actuation system or CAS. Dual-thrust solid-fuel rockets are common, but some longer-range missiles use liquid-fuel motors that can "throttle" to extend their range and preserve fuel for energy-intensive final maneuvering. Some solid-fuelled missiles mimic this technique with a second rocket motor which burns during the terminal homing phase. There are missiles, such as the MBDA Meteor, that "breathe" air (using a ramjet, similar to a jet engine) in order to extend their range.

Modern missiles use "low-smoke" motors – early missiles produced thick smoke trails, which were easily seen by the crew of the target aircraft alerting them to the attack and helping them determine how to evade it.

The CAS is typically an electro-mechanical, servo control actuation system, which takes input from the guidance system and manipulates the airfoils or fins at the rear of the missile that guide or steers the weapon to target.

Nowadays, countries start developing hypersonic air-to-air missile using scramjet engines (such as R-37, or AIM-260 JATM), which not only increases efficiency for BVR battles, but it also makes survival chances of target aircraft drop to nearly zero.

Performance

edit

A number of terms frequently crop up in discussions of air-to-air missile performance.

Launch success zone
The Launch Success Zone is the range within which there is a high (defined) kill probability against a target that remains unaware of its engagement until the final moment. When alerted visually or by a warning system the target attempts a last-ditch-manoeuvre sequence.
F-pole
A closely related term is the F-Pole. This is the slant range between the launch aircraft and target, at the time of interception. The greater the F-Pole, the greater the confidence that the launch aircraft will achieve air superiority with that missile.
A-pole
This is the slant range between the launch aircraft and target at the time that the missile begins active guidance or acquires the target with the missile's active seeker. The greater the A-Pole means less time and possibly greater distance that the launch aircraft needs to support the missile guidance until missile seeker acquisition.
No-escape zone
The no-escape zone is the zone within which there is a high (defined) kill probability against a target even if it has been alerted. This zone is defined as a conical shape with the tip at the missile launch. The cone's length and width are determined by the missile and seeker performance. A missile's speed, range and seeker sensitivity will mostly determine the length of this imaginary cone, while its agility (turn rate) and seeker complexity (speed of detection and ability to detect off axis targets) will determine the width of the cone.

Missile minimum range

edit
 
A US Navy VF-103 Jolly Rogers F-14 Tomcat fighter launches an AIM-54 Phoenix long-range air-to-air missile. Photo courtesy U.S. Navy Atlantic Fleet.

A missile is subject to a minimum range, before which it cannot maneuver effectively. In order to maneuver sufficiently from a poor launch angle at short ranges to hit its target, some missiles use thrust vectoring, which allow the missile to start turning "off the rail", before its motor has accelerated it up to high enough speeds for its small aerodynamic surfaces to be useful.

Short-range air-to-air missile

edit
See also: Beyond-visual-range missile

Short-range air-to-air missiles (SRAAMs), typically used in "dogfighting" or close range air combat compare to the beyond-visual-range missiles. Most of the short-range air-to-air missiles are infrared guided and few are active radar guided.

SRAAM missile evolution

edit
 
Chinese PL-5 short-range air-to-air missiles

Those missiles usually classified into five "generations" according to the historical technological advances. Most of these advances were in infrared seeker technology (later combined with digital signal processing).

First generation

edit

Early short-range missiles such as the early Sidewinders and K-13 (missile) (AA-2 Atoll) had infrared seekers with a narrow (30-degree) field of view and required the attacker to position himself behind the target (rear aspect engagement). This meant that the target aircraft only had to perform a slight turn to move outside the missile seeker's field of view and cause the missile to lose track of the target ("break lock").[10]

Second generation

edit

The second-generation of short-range missiles utilized more effective seekers that were better cooled than its predecessors while being typically "uncaged"; resulting in improved sensitivity to heat signatures, an increase in field of view as well as allowing the possibility of leading a missile within its FOV for an increased probability of kill against a maneuvering target. In some cases, the improved sensitivity to heat signatures allows for a very limited side and even all-aspect tracking, as is the case with the Red Top missile. In conjunction with improved control surfaces and propulsion motors over the first generation of dogfight missiles, the technological advances of the second-generation short-range missiles allowed them to be used not just on non-maneuvering bombers, but also actively maneuvering fighters. Examples include advanced derivatives of the K-13 (missile) and AIM-9 such as K-13M (R-13M, Object 380) or AIM-9D / G / H.

Third generation

edit

This generation introduced much more sensitive seekers that are capable of locking onto the warm heat irradiated by the skins of aircraft from the front or side aspects, as opposed to just the hotter engine nozzle(s) from rear-aspect, allowing for a true all-aspect capability. This significantly expanded potential attacking envelopes, allowing the attacker to fire at a target which was side-on or front-on to itself as opposed to just the rear. While the field-of-view was still restricted to a fairly narrow cone, the attack at least did not have to be behind the target.[10]

Also typical of the third generation of short-range missiles are further improved agility over the previous generation as well as their ability to radar-slave; which is acquiring tracking data from the launching aircraft's radar or IRST systems, allowing attackers to launch missiles without ever pointing the nose of the aircraft at an enemy prior to leading the missile. Examples of this generation of dogfight missiles include the R-60M or the Python-3.

Fourth generation

edit

The R-73 (missile) (AA-11 Archer) entered service in 1985 and marked a new generation of dogfight missile. It had a wider field of view and could be cued onto a target using a helmet mounted sight. This allowed it to be launched at targets that would otherwise not be seen by older generation missiles that generally stared forward while waiting to be launched. This capability, combined with a more powerful motor that allows the missile to maneuver against crossing targets and launch at greater ranges, gives the launching aircraft improved tactical freedom.[11]

Other members of the 4th generation use focal plane arrays to offer greatly improved scanning and countermeasures resistance (especially against flares). These missiles are also much more agile, some by employing thrust vectoring (typically gimballed thrust).

Fifth generation

edit
 
An IRIS-T air-to-air missile of the German Air Force.

The latest generation of short-range missiles again defined by advances in seeker technologies, this time electro-optical imaging infrared (IIR) seekers that allow the missiles to "see" images rather than single "points" of infrared radiation (heat). The sensors combined with more powerful digital signal processing provide the following benefits:

  • greater infrared counter countermeasures (IRCCM) ability, by being able to distinguish aircraft from infrared countermeasures (IRCM) such as flares.
  • greater sensitivity means greater range and ability to identify smaller low flying targets such as UAVs.
  • more detailed target image allows targeting of more vulnerable parts of aircraft instead of just homing in on the brightest infrared source (exhaust).

Examples of fifth generation short-range missiles include:

List of missiles by country

edit

For each missile, short notes are given, including an indication of its range and guidance mechanism.

Brazil

edit

Canada

edit

France

edit

Germany

edit
 
Luftwaffe IRIS-T and Meteor missiles on a Eurofighter Typhoon

India

edit
 
Astra BVRAAM fired from IAF Su-30MKI

Iran

edit

Iraq

edit

Israel

edit
 
The newest and the oldest member of Rafael's Python family of AAM for comparisons, Python-5 (displayed lower-front) and Shafrir-1 (upper-back)
  • Python:
    • Rafael Shafrir – first Israeli domestic AAM
    • Rafael Shafrir 2 – improved Shafrir missile
    • Rafael Python 3 – medium-range IR-homing missile with all aspect capability [1]
    • Rafael Python 4 – medium-range IR-homing missile with HMS-guidance capability [2]
    • Python-5 – improved Python 4 with electro-optical imaging seeker, and 360 degrees lock on. (and launch) [3]
    • Rafael Derby – Also known as the Alto, this is a medium-range, BVR active radar-homing missile [4]
    • I-Derby ER – long range BVR active radar-homing missile
  • Sky Spear – 6th generation long-range, air-to-air missile

Italy

edit

Japan

edit
  • AAM-1 – (Type 69 air-to-air missile) short-range, IR-seeking air-to-air missile; copy of U.S. AIM-9B Sidewinder.
  • AAM-2 – short-range, IR-seeking air-to-air missile; similar to AIM-4D, prototype-only.
  • AAM-3 – (Type 90 air-to-air missile) short-range, all-aspect IR-seeking air-to-air missile.
  • AAM-4 – (Type 99 air-to-air missile) medium-range, active radar-guided air-to-air missile.
  • AAM-5 – (Type 04 air-to-air missile) short-range, all-aspect IR-seeking air-to-air missile.

People's Republic of China

edit
  • PL-1 – PRC version of the Soviet K-5 (missile) (AA-1 Alkali), retired.
  • PL-2 – PRC version of the Soviet Vympel K-13 (AA-2 Atoll), which was based on AIM-9B Sidewinder. [5] Retired & replaced by PL-5 in PLAAF service.
  • PL-3 – updated version of the PL-2, did not enter service.
  • PL-4 – experimental BVR missile based on AIM-7D, did not enter service.
  • PL-6 – updated version of PL-3, also did not enter service.
  • PL-5 – updated version of the PL-2, known versions include: [6]
    • PL-5A – semi-active radar-homing AAM intended to replace the PL-2, did not enter service. Resembles AIM-9G in appearance.
    • PL-5B – IR version, entered service in the 1990s to replace the PL-2 SRAAM. Limited off-boresight
    • PL-5C – Improved version comparable to AIM-9H or AIM-9L in performance
    • PL-5E – All-aspect attack version, resembles AIM-9P in appearance.
  • PL-7 – PRC version of the IR-homing French R550 Magic AAM, did not enter service. [7]
  • PL-8 – PRC version of the Israeli Rafael Python 3 [8]
  • PL-9 – short-range IR-guided missile, marketed for export. One known improved version (PL-9C). [9]
  • PL-10(old);– semi-active radar-homing medium-range missile based on the HQ-61 SAM, [10] often confused with PL-11. Did not enter service.
  • PL-10(new)/PL-ASR – short-range off-boresight all-aspect IR-guided missile.
  • PL-11 – medium-range air-to-air missile (MRAAM), based on the HQ-61C & Italian Aspide (AIM-7) technology. Limited service with J-8-B/D/H fighters. Known versions include: [11]
    • PL-11 – MRAAM with semi-active radar homing, based on the HQ-61C SAM and Aspide seeker technology, exported as FD-60 [12]
    • PL-11A – Improved PL-11 with increased range, warhead, and more effective seeker. The new seeker only requires fire-control radar guidance during the terminal stage, providing a basic LOAL (lock-on after launch) capability.
    • PL-11B – Also known as PL-11 AMR, improved PL-11 with AMR-1 active radar-homing seeker.
    • LY-60 – PL-11 adopted for navy ships for air-defense, sold to Pakistan but does not appear to be in service with the Chinese Navy. [13]
  • PL-12 (SD-10) – medium-range active radar missile [14]
    • PL-12A – with upgraded motor
    • PL-12B – with upgraded guidance
    • PL-12C – with foldable tailfins
    • PL-12D – with belly inlet and ramjet motors
  • F80 – medium-range active radar missile
  • PL-15 – long-range active radar missile
  • PL-17 – extreme long-range active radar missile
  • PL-21 - long-range active radar missile (In Development)
  • TY-90 – light IR-homing air-to-air missile designed for helicopters [15]

Soviet Union/Russian Federation

edit

South Africa

edit
  • A-Darter – Short-range IR (With Brazil)
  • V3 Kukri – Short-range IR
  • R-Darter – Beyond-visual-range (BVR) radar-guided missile

Taiwan

edit

Turkey

edit

United Kingdom

edit
  • Fireflash – short-range beam-riding
  • Firestreak – short-range IR
  • Red Top – short-range IR
  • Taildog/SRAAM – short-range IR
  • Skyflash – medium-range radar-guided missile based on the AIM-7E2, said to have quick warm-up times of 1 to 2 seconds.
  • AIM-132 ASRAAM – short-range IR
  • MBDA Meteor – long-range active radar-guided missile with a solid fuel ducted ramjet[17]

United States

edit

Retired

edit

Operational

edit

In development

edit

Typical air-to-air missiles

edit
Rocket Name Country of origin Period of manufacture and use Weight Warhead weight Warhead types Range Speed
PL-12   China 2007– 180 kg ? ? 70–100 km Mach 4
R550 Magic / Magic 2

MBDA

  France 1976–1986 (Magic)
1986– (Magic 2) 		89 kg 12.5 kg Blast/fragmentation 20 km Mach 2.7
MICA-EM/-IR

MBDA

  France 1996– (EM)
2000– (IR) 		112 kg 12 kg Blast/fragmentation
(focused splinters HE) 		>60 km Mach 4
IRIS-T

Diehl Defence

  Germany (lead contractor)

  Italy   Greece   Norway  Spain

2005– 87.4 kg 11.4 kg HE/fragmentation 25 km Mach 3
Astra   India 2010– 154 kg 15 kg HE fragmentation directional warhead 110–160 km[33] Mach 4.5+
Derby

Rafael

  Israel 1990– 118 kg 23 kg Blast/fragmentation 50 km Mach 4
AAM-4   Japan 1999– 220 kg ? Directional explosive warhead 100–120 km Mach 4–5
K-100   Russia/  India 2010– 748 kg 50 kg HE fragmentation directional warhead 200–400 km Mach 3.3
R-73 Vympel   Russia 1982– 105 kg 7.4 kg Fragmentation 20–40 km Mach 2.5
R-77 Vympel   Russia 1994– 175 kg 22 kg Blast/fragmentation 80–160 km Mach 4.5
K-5   Soviet Union
  Russia 		1957–1977 82.7 kg 13 kg High explosive warhead 2–6 km Mach 2.33
R-27   Soviet Union
  Russia 		1983– 253 kg 39 kg Blast/fragmentation, or continuous rod 40–170 km Mach 4.5
R-33   Soviet Union
  Russia 		1981– 490 kg 47.5 kg HE/fragmentation warhead 120–220 km Mach 4.5–6
R-37   Soviet Union
  Russia 		1989– 600 kg 60 kg HE fragmentation directional warhead 150–398 km Mach 6
R-40   Soviet Union
  Russia 		1970– 475 kg 38–100 kg Blast fragmentation 50–80 km Mach 2.2–4.5
R-60 Molniya   Soviet Union
  Russia 		1974– 43.5 kg 3 kg expanding-rod warhead 8 km Mach 2.7
Sky Sword II(TC-2)   Taiwan 1999 184 kg 22 kg Blast/fragmentation 60 km Mach 4
Sky Sword IIC(TC-2C)   Taiwan 2017 184 kg 22 kg Blast/fragmentation 100 km Mach 6
Meteor

MBDA

  United Kingdom (lead contractor)

  France   Germany   Italy   Sweden   Spain

2016– 190 kg ? Blast/fragmentation 200 km[34] Mach 4+
AIM-132 ASRAAM

MBDA UK

  United Kingdom 2002– 88 kg 10 kg Blast/fragmentation 25 km Mach 3+
Firestreak

de Havilland

  United Kingdom 1957–1988 136 kg 22.7 kg Annular Blast Fragmentation 6.4 km Mach 3
Red Top

Hawker Siddeley

  United Kingdom 1964–1988 154 kg 31 kg Annular Blast Fragmentation 12 km Mach 3.2
AIM-9 Sidewinder   United States 1956– 86 kg 9.4 kg Annular blast fragmentation 18 km Mach 2.5
Raytheon AIM-120D AMRAAM   United States 2008 152 kg 18 kg Blast/fragmentation >160 km Mach 4
Raytheon AIM-120C AMRAAM   United States 1996 152 kg 18 kg Blast/fragmentation >105 km Mach 4
Raytheon AIM-120B AMRAAM   United States 1994– 152 kg 23 kg Blast/fragmentation 55–75 km Mach 4
AIM-7 Sparrow   United States 1959–1982 230 kg 40 kg High explosive blast-fragmentation 22–85 km Mach 2.5–4
AIM-54 Phoenix   United States 1974–2004 450–470 kg 61 kg High explosive 190 km Mach 5

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "ASRAAM". MBDS Systems. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b "AA-11 ARCHER R-73". Global Security. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  3. ^ a b "RVV-MD". Rosoboronexport. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  4. ^ Albert Ball VC. pp. 90–91.
  5. ^ "The History Channel". Archived from the original on May 19, 2009.
  6. ^ Dario Leone (2019-07-17). "Here's how Houthis were able to deploy R-27/R-60/R-73/R-77 Air-to-Air Missiles as SAMs against Saudi-led Coalition Aircraft". theaviationgeekclub.com. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  7. ^ Stephen Bryen (2022-07-09). "US air defense system delivery hopes to save Kiev". asiatimes.com. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  8. ^ "Atmospheric Effects on Electro-optics". Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  9. ^ Carlo Kopp (Aug 2009). "The Russian Philosophy of BVR Air Combat". Airpower Australia, Retrieved April 2010
  10. ^ a b Carlo Kopp (April 1997). "Fourth Generation AAMs – The Rafael Python 4". Australian Aviation. 1997 (April). Retrieved 2007-03-08.
  11. ^ Carlo Kopp (August 1998). "Helmet Mounted Sights and Displays". Air Power International. Retrieved 2007-03-08.
  12. ^ "Управляемая ракета малой дальности Р-73 | Ракетная техника". missilery.info.
  13. ^ "УПРАВЛЯЕМАЯ РАКЕТА СРЕДНЕЙ ДАЛЬНОСТИ Р-77". Archived from the original on 2020-02-02.
  14. ^ "Управляемая ракета средней дальности Р-77 (РВВ-АЕ) | Ракетная техника". missilery.info.
  15. ^ Lake, Jon. "A-Darter Missile Certified by Brazil and South Africa". Aviation International News. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  16. ^ "Communiqué Premiers tirs METEOR effectués par les Rafale de l'armée de l'Air et de la Marine nationale". Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  17. ^ a b "First Tranche 3 Typhoon Readied For Flight". Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  18. ^ a b "Allgemeine Luftkampfraketen". Archived from the original on 22 January 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  19. ^ "After successful development trials, Astra missile ready for production". 18 September 2017.
  20. ^ "Fatter – Jane's Air-Launched Weapons". Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  21. ^ "Sedjil – Jane's Air-Launched Weapons". Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  22. ^ "Iranian F-14 Tomcat's new indigenous air-to-air missile is actually an (improved?) AIM-54 Phoenix replica". 26 September 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  23. ^ "The air-to-air missile with Ramjet engine from TÜBITAK Sage: GÖKHAN". 25 June 2021.
  24. ^ Johnston, Carter (2024-07-05). "U.S. Navy Confirms SM-6 Air Launched Configuration is 'Operationally Deployed'". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  25. ^ Drew2016-02-25T18:50:15+00:00, James. "USAF reveals slimmed-down SACM air-to-air missile concept". Flight Global.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ "Raytheon selected to deliver next-generation tactical air-to-air missile solutions | IHS Jane's 360". September 1, 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-09-01.
  27. ^ "Raytheon to research tactical missile capabilities". UPI.
  28. ^ "SACM: Affordable, Highly-Lethal Missile". SOFREP.
  29. ^ "StackPath". www.militaryaerospace.com. 21 January 2016.
  30. ^ Bisht, Inder Singh (2021-09-23). "Boeing Unveils Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile Concept". The Defense Post. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  31. ^ "The Weekly Debrief: More Details Emerge About New USAF Mystery Missile | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  32. ^ Bisht, Inder Singh (2022-12-20). "Raytheon Clinches Next-Gen Air-to-Air Missile Concept Funding". The Defense Post. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  33. ^ "Deal for desi Astra Mk 1 sealed, India set to test next-gen air-to-air missile 'this month'". ThePrint. 1 June 2022.
  34. ^ "German air force declares Meteor missile ready for Eurofighter fleet". 2 August 2021.

Bibliography

edit
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Air-to-air_missile&oldid=1258763483"