Not sure why everyone thinks range is a issue. The goal here may well be a smaller short range missile.

Whats wrong with a 50 Kilometer small hit to kill radar guided missile that could also be used as a 15 kilometer ground/ship based point defense missiles as well.

Also consider potential uses on smaller air platforms like UAV and helicopters where a full sized amraam maybe to large.

As ranges of existing missiles continue to grow eventually it makes sense return to a shorter range but with a smaller sized new missile that can still meet the original range requirements of larger missiles.