The US Air Force (USAF) and Raytheon successfully test-fired a new version of the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile against an F-16 on June 30. The event marked the first successful actual firing of the improved version of the weapon.
Called the AIM-120D-3, the missile was fired from an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter-bomber against a QF-16, an ordinary F-16 fighter turned into a drone to serve as a test and training target.
The exercise with the updated AMRAAM was conducted by the 28th and 85th Test and Evaluation Squadrons. According to the 53rd Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, the objective was to execute a long-range shot that would physically stress the new missile hardware and the performance capabilities of this new version.
The AMRAAM upgrade program, America's flagship medium/long-range missile, is one of the USAF's responses to MBDA's European Meteor missile and the Chinese PL-15. At the same time, the US Air Force and Lockheed Martin are working to develop a new missile, the AIM-260 t Air Tactical Missile.
The modernization of the AMRAAM takes place through the Form, Fit and Function Replacement program of its manufacturer, Raytheon, which installed 15 new electronic components, replacing materials from the early 200s. The company seeks, through new software and hardware, to increase the range of missile without changing the propellant or installing a new rocket engine.
The Marine had performed launches of the AIM-120D-3 before, but not against a real aircraft, even if unmanned as in the case of the QF-16. Last year the USAF said it had Broken record for furthest kill with a missile, but gave no details about the event.
“The successful execution proves that the redesigned hardware and software are progressing as expected and takes us one step closer to fielding a reliable and sustainable air-to-air capability for the warfighter,” said Major Heath Honaker, Director of Engineering and Advanced Programs for the 28th TES.
Prior to firing, the assessment team conducted several missile captive transport test flights. AIM-120D3 instrumented to collect data and ensure the missile's new hardware and software functioned correctly.
“The F3R is critical to enabling high confidence production of the AIM-120D from 2022 through the remainder of the missile’s life cycle”, said Honaker.
In service since 1991, the AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) is the world's leading radar-guided air-to-air missile in use, with more than 4.900 test fires and more than 13 victories in real combat.
