The ASRAAM trades the thrust vectoring for having a big ass booster motor compared to the thrust vectoring missiles
mhm makes sense, was wondering how it achieved such a long range in comparison to other missiles
a combination of loal, big thrust, and body dynamics that do offer good maneuverability, focus on sustaining speed
big thrust and long thrust.
the rocket motor in the ASRAAM is significantly bigger than in other missiles like the IRIS-T or AIM-9X
i wonder how much it affects maneuverability
no, only P3I ASRAAM
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maybe that was the one i read about, i dont remember
That’s not entirely true, at least when used on Rafale.
Rafale’s weapon system uses sensor fusion to generate tracking data for the missiles.
This includes the 360° passive IR sensors, so as long as the IR sensors can see the threat, a Rafale should be able to fire a MICA onto it without the help of a friendly aircraft.
IMO this is part of the reason why the french airforce really didn’t rush to integrate an HMS on the Rafale.
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Amusing discussion since all sources should be classified. IRIS-T is acknowledged by many to be the best short range ir guided missile, with other misisles such as A-Darter or Python 5 obviously being very close.
No one can tell which does in fact have the best performance or is the most reliant when fired under ideal circumstances.
we might get some info on their performance vs russian helicopters as the SLS(basically the air launched one but surface launched with little to no modifications) has just started to be delivered to Ukraine
ASRAAM Block 6 entered service in 2022. The block 6 introduces new and updated sub-systems, and replaces external cooling with a new internal cooler. The seeker has been replaced with a new UK built seeker of higher resolution. There are no US-made components, meaning that it does not come under ITAR restrictions and can therefore be exported without US approval.
I’m interested in seeing how it performs in Ukraine against aerial targets, given it’s got a fire and forget mode, so it’ll be interesting to see how it fairs against live targets.
whats the res now then
Don’t know, no number was given.
I can’t find a resolution either. Probably classified, or otherwise not released.
IRIS-T, meanwhile, uses a two-colour seeker based around a 128 x 2 array which uses a scanning mirror to build a larger picture of its ±90° field of view. Matra BAe Dynamics uses a similar system on the IR-guided version of its medium-range Mica missile. Mica is also available with a radar seeker. Another difference between IRIS-T and AIM-9X is that the former uses a Ku-band radar as the fuze, whereas Raytheon’s missile has a laser sensor.
BGT IRIS-T marketing manager Gerhard Dussler says the 128 x 2 element array produces a 128 x 128 size picture 80 times a second and, like its competitors, uses aim point selection for greater accuracy and to defeat IR countermeasures. He claims the array allows a smaller radome that eliminates dome-heating problems. Dome heating caused by a missile’s high speed is an issue for a sensor which relies on detecting differences in temperature. A high temperature dome will appear as background radiation, often obliterating the image of a target at a distance.
Dussler says the two rows of 128 elements are offset, creating a so-called “staggered linear array” so that data does not “fall through the gaps” created when the rows are aligned.
So if I’m reading that correctly the IRIS-T seeker resolution is 128 px x 2 px and it uses a mechanically scanning mirror to build a 128 px x 128 px image? Seems like an interesting approach.
Does this also mean iris-t track rate is 80 degrees per second?
Its the polling rate of the imager (80 Hz), so the image of the scene updates every 12.5 milliseconds. The image is then processed to provide the derived point of aim (depending on which guidance laws are used, their complexity can vary significantly) and whatever else the autopilot needs to know to correct for any positional error and establish intercept geometry.
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This is the funny thing the seeker was always a British design ever since the first one
Track rate of imaging infrared seekers is a bit different than those of earlier models.
correct, it is done this way to not be susceptible to DIRCM
Seems they went for the TV/Line scan approach for better ircm I assume.