USAF cancels AMRAAM replacement

Yes, i think they came to the conclusion that neither range nor speed is competitive with this propellant

I posted this news over on Typhoon Starstreak a couple of weeks ago and I’m just as surprised now as I was then, on hearing the news.

As has already been pointed out, the US could replace various pieces of AMRAAM until theres nothing in common with the original apart from the actual shape. However, physically, theres only so much one can do to improve an A/A missile before nothing more can be done, and bearing in mind this is a BVR weapon where absolute range and NEZ performance is vital, and in AMRAAM’s case these will be areas where it’d be outclassed by the likes of Meteor. AMRAAM would need some major re-designs & upgrades for it to have any chances of even matching the likes of range, NEZ etc of Meteor, i.e. Ramjet propulsion for a start.

Saying that, I wouldn’t say all is rosy for Meteor as far as exports is concerned, meaning; Meteor being integrated onto US aircraft abroad. Simply put, the US would just block such an integration and leave no other choice but to fit AMRAAM. However, again, ‘Saying that’, that could also work against them so who knows what headaches this could bring.

The AIM-120D is going into dedicated OT in FY2012 and scheduled for multi-service IOC in FY2014. Over 1100 AIM-20Ds have been and are being produced (lots 20-25).

I wonder if this means they’ll invest in a ramjet-powered version of the AMRAAM sometime in the future as an answer to the Meteor and the K-77M…

Any news about AIM-120D ? is it already in operation ? .This is one hell of a missile I read somewhere..

Unlikely. They’ll just keep developing AIM-120.

Does it mean that US will purchase meteors ?

Wow, i’m disappointed, this was a very good concept.
The idea is so sound so i guess it was lacking performance wise and therefore dropped, plus of course that they are introduced to a tight budget never seen before

Pardon my ignorance: What about the VFDR and HSAD programmes that were based on AIM-120 and AGM-88?

I also wonder how many black things are in the U.S. portfolio. The U.S. is getting like the USSR in the 1950’s – things come out 10 years after the fact.

Trident thou must not take issue with the obvious “stealth” doctrine flaw.
Have you not read the preachings of the disciples??

(ps it’s not about delivering effective kit to the end users it’s about the share value of the companies producing the expensive kit…)

Agree, the loss of the ARM role will actually be more acutely felt. In terms of length, HARM should fit at least the F-35 bays but its bulky wings would definitely have to be made foldable. I guess the USAF is banking on SDBs launched from F-22s (stealth reducing threat range and high altitude and supersonic speed boosting that of the bomb) being adequate. While that is probably true for most legacy air defences it seems like quite a gamble against the newest systems emerging now, let alone in the long run. And if you’re going to limit yourself to engaging outdated defences only, what’s the point of paying through your nose for stealth, again?

Limited payload flexibility aboard 5th gen platforms was the main reason the next-gen missile was intended to combine the roles of AMRAAM and HARM. That issue ain’t going away.

Can F-35 or F-22 even carry HARM internally?

There’ll still be the option of improved AMRAAMs.

AIM-120 is going the way of the AIM-9 Sidewinder, replacement of components piecemeal until it has nothing in common with the original except the rough outline.

[edit]Cross-posted with Al. 😉

It sounds eminently sensible to me.

The US did a fantastic job of upgrading sidewinder with current technology. I can see no reason not to use some of the intermediate work to upgrade AMRAAM and HARM as seperate systems.

Or

Lasers

That is interesting news….

So it’s not the case the US will whip something out of the top secret draw to bring into development then?

Either way, it leaves a lot of people with Meteor as their only option….