Yep, and can be used with sensor fusion (true sensor fusion) to give target data to the radar or electronic warfare systems of Mirage 2000 & Rafale.
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Thanks for the info man.
They reserved the name for potential future upgrades to the AIM-120, right now it means nothing iirc.
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Any air launched AMRAAM upgrade proposals would likely fall under the requirement for 7" diameter to fit existing stores.
If I had to guess, it would probably field an improved motor while retaining the non-AESA seeker as a cheaper alternative to the JATM (AIM-260). We know the JATM is much more expensive and will be fielded in lower quantity than the AIM-120. In order to keep up with potential war time expenditure of ordnance they’d want something a little less effective (but also cheaper) for non high-value targets.
Why 10’’ body can’t fit in weapon bays?
Why reuse any AMRAAM parts on new 10" missile design? Larger motors on AMRAAM electronics already exists.
Well, in general amraam-axe is… Same idea. Still waiting for any solution to simply adapt the RIM-162 or AMRAAM-ER/AXE.
You’d have to wonder what the purpose of a larger diameter ordnance would be, increased range? We don’t really have a range issue.
PL-15, PL-17, R-37M, PL-XX, now R-77M
Okay, and?
all of these match or outdo our range
None of them outmatch the AIM-174B and none of them perform similarly to the JATM, as I said there is no concern about range anymore. Potential AMRAAM upgrades would not focus so much on range as they would lethality and multiple pulsed motors offer that over conventional designs.
Aside from range, our stealth aircraft are far more concerned about end-game kill probability.
is there a reliable estimate for the range and manueverability of the AIM-174B?
If I recall correctly it is something like 200+ nautical miles from surface launch with booster, so at least that for air launch without booster.
Then why was the AMRAAM-AXE program initiated if there is no problem?
Export market and initial low count of Aim-260 is your answer.
So. We don’t have enough range on AIM-120D → We make AIM-260 → We can’t make a big amount of AIM-260 → We don’t have enough range on Aim-120D and we don’t have enough Aim-260 → We make AMRAAM-AXE.
So, in general, range problem still here?