Air Force scores longest AMRAAM kill
Raytheon announced that an F-22 Raptor from Eglin AFB equipped with AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) got a record-length kill late in 2024 over the Gulf of Mexico’s Gulf Range Complex. Details were not provided, but based on previous long-kill tests with AIM-12 Phoenix missiles at 120 to 134 miles, it sounds like we are getting competitive with some of the aggressor missiles from China and Russia which have significant ranges.
The Air Force in general is increasingly employing networking and third-party sensors to provide additional targeting data, including for engagements in which the launch aircraft doesn’t lock the target up itself, which can be advantageous. Meanwhile, ‘kill chain’ concepts are an important part of achieving air dominance at extended range, as you can read about in this past post of ours, and they also require longer-legged missiles to get the most out of them. TWZ
Normally a fire-and-forget radar guided missile has its target selected by the fighter pilot, is fired at the target, and when it approaches the target zone its own organic radar turns on and acquires the target at close range. In theory great, but in practice if the target has moved out of range, it is lost. Adding other sensors and emitters to the data base, like for instance an AWACs or other radars, can help guide the missile even if the original targeting fighter has moved on to other tasks and is no longer ‘painting’ the target.
Likely competitors include the Chines PL series missiles.
The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) defense and security think tank determines that the PL-15 out-ranges the AIM-120D.
The PL-15 is already in widespread service, and China is also working on further-reaching weapons, including the much bigger PL-17, a very long-range missile that may well be intended primarily to target high-value assets, like tankers and airborne early warning aircraft. You can read more about this missile here.
Then there is the missile currently dubbed PL-16, which appears to have been developed to allow the Chinese J-20 fighter to accommodate six longer-range missiles internally (as opposed to the four PL-15s currently carried).
Then there is the Rusian R37M, which has a claimed range against large targets (like tankers, transports, etc.) of 124 miles, 200km. Or in general:
In the past, TWZ has reported on how the Air Force expects that, by 2050, there will be counter-air missiles that can hit aircraft at ranges as great as 1,000 miles — a huge advance in anti-access capabilities compared to the distances air defense missiles can reach today.
In recent months, the U.S. Navy has introduced, at least on a limited level, an air-launched version of the Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) under the AIM-174B designation. The range of this weapon is classified but should be far in excess of that of the AIM-120D, probably at least double and perhaps even triple the range, against large targets.
Then there is NATO’s Meteor rocket. Actually more a cruise missile than a rocket, it uses a solid-fuel ramjet which can adjust thrust in flight to enable longer range and potentially more energy at impact. Rather than burning full-out like a normal rocket, it can more or less loaf to the target zone, hen hit at about mach 4.5. With its own organic radar, this helps increase the size of its kill zone as well.
The Meteor’s data-link also has two-way capability, so the pilot could re-target the missile while it is already on its way. The pilot can also see the missile’s fuel, energy and tracking state in real-time. TWZ II
Too much info to repeat in that second article, but it is extremely interesting. Check it out.
You mean the Gulf formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico?
Next they’ll be working on missiles that can shoot down the Tripods before they can leave the surface of Mars to attack us here on Earth to use our blood to grow their red weeds.
That would make me very angry. Very angry indeed.
I always wondered why the bayonet assault course had such peculiar chants to go with it.
Wonder if the target was a Venezuelan drug boat?
I believe that headline should credit the Air Force, not the Navy. The USAF is the sole operator of the F-22.
Fixed. Too many missiles in too short a time.
Interesting thus was by an F22 and not the highly vaunted F35.
Honestly, I’d make the argument that the F-22 is more an air-dominance/interceptor aircraft and is kinda designed to do this kind of thing, whereas the F-35 is more of a multirole strike fighter than an interceptor. I have NO inside knowledge or anything, just seems like that would be more logical… 🤷♂️
The differences are highlighted in the articles – ironically, the F22 is stealthier and has less need of such a standoff weapon, since they can get closer. Apparently F22 jocks want MORE weapons, not longer-range ones.
The lifetime pension option is the longer range.
Just sayin….
I mean, range is nice, but if you CAN get closer and so more likely guarantee a hit and a kill… Phoenix missiles were great, and had incredible range, but their relative accuracy was somewhat suspect at that range… they were cool, though.
I’m pretty sure the Phoenix missile was the
AIM-54 vice AIM-12.
A problem with really long range AAM and SAM is size and energy management. How many can you carry on a platform, and how do they bleed energy impacting range as the target maneuvers.
Perhaps it would be useful to point out that, as the article indicates, the AMRAAM is a MEDIUM RANGE missile. So comparing it to Chinese long range missiles isn’t really an accurate comparison.