@quartas121 To go further, many of the features that are mentioned in the F3R upgrade were actually planned upgrades on older missiles to begin with, such as the processor itself. These changes later delayed the F3R initiative according to more recent budget papers.
thanks for clearing it up, makes more sense now
To be clear, we also know that the AIM-120C-7 and early AIM-120D used the same motors (based on the same type of propellant used in AIM-9X block II).
so C-7 and early D (im assuming you mean the AIM-120D and late D means D-3) would have a different (better?) motor than the C-5, and D-3 would have the best motor of them all?
is the 9X blk II propellant improved?
AIM-120C-5 motor is known, it is not known whether AIM-120C-7 or AIM-120D continued to use the same motor.
We know AIM-120C-7 and AIM-120D have the same motor, which is still using sidewinder based propellant. AIM-9X rocket motor is derived from the MK36 used on the earlier sidewinders, but propellant, grain pattern, etc have all improved drastically over time. AIM-9X block II motor has a slightly different designation than block 1, presumably some changes were made to the motor but we do not know what.
TL;DR
High performance (high specific impulse) propellants have been developed for our missiles for some time now, it is highly likely they have moved towards the production of these propellants. If we find information on the impulse or characteristics of one, we can better guess the performance of the other since they are using the same stuff.
And as I posted above, the the AIM-120D-3 uses a different (larger) motor than the previous models.
would aim-260/d-3 use a dual pulse motor?
There is no info
according DLA.MIL the D may not have a different motor “041GUIDED MISSILE,INTERCEPT-AERIAL1410-WH90Radar Guided Missile AIM-120D is an upgraded Aim-120C Missile that includes GPS/IMU Enhanced Datalink and software upgraded capabilities.|A1410WH90”
also according to the same DLA.MIL file it shares the same motor by the designation WPU-16/B
“033PROPULSION SECTION,GUIDED MISSILE1337-VG29P/N 2241017-3; WPU-16/B; F/AIM-120D|A1337VG29”
maybe the D has more propellent or different grain config
We already know the AIM-120D shares the same motor as the AIM-120C-7, the AIM-120D-3(F3R) is the model that has the larger motor.
Also, these sites have regularly posted misinformation on the weight, range, parts of the missile so I wouldn’t be surprised if they continue to do so.
no information on the exact achieved range - difficult to get any idea of it.
Credits to Yamahagi for image
Chinese documents?
they also put the 120d-3 at 185 km
What launch conditions?
Nvm I see it now, M1.2 at 10km
I wonder how far the Raptor shot was since that could easily be mach 2 at 18km
yeah essentially
btw this makes aim-260 better than the 500 kg r-37m. impressive
do they assumed M1.2 for the aircraft being shot at in head on and tail chase?
they don’t actually give parameters for the target vehicle unfortunately
aim-260 is quite impressive considering it’s still essentially in the same form factor as aim-120. really impressed at how much range they’ve managed to squeeze out of it
here is the link to the study itself
https://www.aeroweaponry.avic.com/CN/10.12132/ISSN.1673-5048.2025.0057
If this does hold up, it’s looking like the chinese will have the very best long range missile, with the us close behind, then the russians
Yeah they’ve been doing good work, I hope it’s maneuverability is equal or better to AMRAAM
