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25 July 2000
The U.S Air Force and Raytheon Company have announced that the latest Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) configuration will be available to U.S allies and security assistance partners for future procurement.
The announcement occurred at the recent AMRAAM International Users Conference, the annual gathering of all countries procuring AMRAAM.
"This initiative is important to our air superiority plans and will enhance coalition capability while ensuring continued interoperability," said Judy A. Stoldey, director of the Air-to-Air Joint Systems Programme Office, US Air Force Air Armament Centre, Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
This latest AMRAAM, designated AIM-120C5, incorporates lethality improvements and a five-inch longer rocket motor. The bigger rocket motor allows faster intercepts and improved launch range. The control section has been shrunk, keeping the missile the same length (12 feet) and retaining aircraft compatibility. This improvement also will benefit the ground-launch capability of AMRAAM. The AIM-120C5 is configured with clipped wings and fins to comply with the internal carriage requirements of the Joint Strike Fighter and the F-22.
"This latest missile configuration can be procured beginning with our next production contract," said Charles D. Anderson, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems air-to-air product line. "We expect the next award in March 2001, which will provide our international customers the opportunity to procure at that time.".
AMRAAM is a software-driven, radar-guided missile that gives pilots the ability to "launch and leave" and to engage multiple targets during a single engagement. More than 10,000 missiles have been produced for US and international customers. To date, 20 countries have ordered AMRAAM.
AMRAAM is operational on the F- 15, F- 16, F/A- 18, the German F4F, the United Kingdom's Sea Harrier, JAS-39 Gripen as well as the Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System. AMRAAM is currently being integrated on the F-22, EF-2000, JA-37 Viggen, Harrier II Plus, Tornado, and the HAWK-AMRAAM system.
AMRAAM also has been demonstrated on a High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle-based surface-launched system, called HUMRAAM.
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