By: Doug97 - 1st October 2006 at 18:45
The follow-on to the Skyflash is the Improved Skyflash, the principal design changes were a series of upgrades to the SARH seeker and a Kinematic Upgrade program, which saw aerodynamic changes to reduce airframe drag and changes to the control system.
The seeker employed by the Active Skyflash is a Thompson-CSF design, a pulse Doppler high PRF (Pulse Repetition Frequency) active radar seeker with a slotted flat plate planar array antenna. The antenna is gimballed to provide a 55 degree off boresight limit, and is rate stabilised and directly driven by geared motors. In this respect it is similar to the AMRAAM seeker.
Where the seeker differs fundamentally from AMRAAM is in the use of an injection locked solid state transmitter, this approach was initially sought by AMRAAM designers but had to be rejected due reliability problems in the then immature high power microwave transistors. The state of the art has progressed since, and the Skyflash seeker exploits the newer and more power efficient technology, which avoids the need for a high voltage power supply, with its associated penalty in weight, volume and power drain. The transmitter is fed from a high purity microwave source, the reference signal from which is amplified by the transmitter chain.
By: Doug97 - 28th September 2006 at 21:20
How does Skyflash 90 compare to AMRAAM?
By: Wanshan - 27th September 2006 at 18:37
Sea Flash = Ship launched Sky Flash AAM. (B.Ae study.)
Sky Flash = UK modification of US AIM-7E Sparrow.
L = 12.1ft (3.68m), W = 425lb (193Kg) R = 31miles (50Km)
Skyflash is a UK modification of the US AIM-7 Sparrow missile with improved guidance and seeker capability. Skyflash uses a Marconi inverse monopulse seeker. A Hoopoe boost/sustainer motor powers Skyflash, which is an Anglicised version of the AIM-7 motor. Developed as XJ.521, the semi-active Skyflash was initially fitted on RAF F-4M Phantoms, but its main use has been on Tornado F2 and F3s of the RAF, Italian and Saudi Arabian Air Forces. Skyflash was also developed for the Royal Swedish Air Force for use on JA-37 Viggens as the RB.71. An improved version called Skyflash 90 was developed for the Swedish Air Force. This was called RB.71A in Sweden. A ship-borne Sea Flash version was not proceeded with.
I would expect it to be compatible with NATO Sea Sparrow Missile system (NSSM), just like Aspide is.
Specifications Sky Flash
Manufacturer British Aerospace
Date Deployed 1978
Range AA 28 miles ( 45 km )
Speed Mach 4
Propulsion One Aerojet Mk52 Mod 2 or
Rocketdyne Mk38 Mod 4 solid-propellant rocket motor
Guidance Marconi XJ521 monopulse Semi-Active Radar Homing
Warhead 87 lb ( 39.5-kg ) HE fragmentation with contact, delay action fuses.
Launch Weight 425 pounds ( 192.8 kg )
Length 12 ft, 1 in ( 3.68 m )
Diameter 8 in ( 0.203 m )
Fin Span 3 ft, 4 in ( 1.02 m )
Specifications Sea Sparrow
Primary Function Air-to-air and surface-to-air radar-guided missile
Contractors Raytheon Co. and General Dynamics
Power Plant Hercules MK-58 solid-propellant rocket motor
Thrust Classified
Speed More than 2,660 mph (4,256 kph)
Range AA More than 30 nautical miles (approximately 55 km)
[Maximum Range = 6 nm according to other sources, SAM-role]
Minimum Range – 1600 yards
Director Lock-on Range – 50 nautical miles
Length 12 feet (3.64 meters)
Diameter 8 inches (20.3 cm)
Wingspan 3 feet 4 inches (one meter)
Warhead Annular blast fragmentation warhead, 90 pounds (40.5 kg)
Proximity fuzed, continuous expanding rod, with a 27 ft. kill radius
fire control systems MK 91
Launch Platform (Launcher) MK 29 Mod 1.
Launch Weight Approximately 500 pounds (225 kg)
Guidance System Raytheon semi-active on continuous wave or pulsed Doppler radar energy
Date Deployed 1976
Unit Cost $165,400
Inventory Classified
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September 25, 2006 at 8:37 pm