After various announcements over the years, very little information has actually been released about joint Israeli-South African development of a ramjet powered BVRAAM. The designation of S-Darter and T-Darter have been variously supplied. Perhaps the silence is to be expected. Derby/R-Darter was operational for a decade before the first details were made public.
The only image I’ve seen so far is of the Denel “LRAAM” mockup. It seems odd to see an IR seeker on a long range ramjet powered AAM?
By: TinWing - 20th December 2005 at 18:05
Actually, I think an Imaging Infra-red seeker is ideal for a long range AAM. Typical ranges for a current active radar seeker are in the 15-25km range, so all long range missiles rely on inertial/datalink guidance to get them close to the target.
I seem to remember reading that Derby/R-Darter doesn’t have “inertal/datalink guidance.” I can’t believe it’s true, though.
A good IIR seeker should be able to reach at least 15-20km.
Well, the French seem to agree with you.
Mica-IR enjoys a unique market niche. Oddly enough, it appears that Mica-EM will be purchased in much larger numbers than Mica-IR. I would have thought that the cost advantages of an IR seeker would have moved the procurement equation in the other direction.
Perhaps the Mica-IR is perceived as too expensive as a Sidewinder/Magic replacement and lacking in capability as a BVRAAM?
If a two way datalink was fitted, then the seeker image could even be relayed back to the launching fighter for final confirmation of target identity though this would clearly increase cost.
How many seconds would the pilot have to make a final target identification?
More to the point, how expensive would the necessary optics be?
By: Petros - 19th December 2005 at 12:22
not to mention the reliability and the couter measurements resistance through a mothership radar/ missile IIR data fusion proccedure
By: aerospacetech - 17th December 2005 at 20:22
Actually, I think an Imaging Infra-red seeker is ideal for a long range AAM. Typical ranges for a current active radar seeker are in the 15-25km range, so all long range missiles rely on inertial/datalink guidance to get them close to the target. A good IIR seeker should be able to reach at least 15-20km. If a two way datalink was fitted, then the seeker image could even be relayed back to the launching fighter for final confirmation of target identity though this would clearly increase cost.
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December 17, 2005 at 6:23 pm