AIM-120D tests.

[Cobra360]

The AIM-120D was flight tested on the F-22 in April to check for noise vibration damage. The missile is externally the same as the C, all the changes are internal. It has reportedly a 50% range increase over the latest C7. This increase in range is said to be because of an improved navigation system! No extra fuel or anything.

 

It was said that it was found during tests of the C7 on the F-22 that certain vibrations at certain frequencies caused or could cause damage to the missile because the cards in the C7 are arranged differently than other models. There has been no other news since on the D which was known as the C8. I do not know if it has been test fired yet to see if it does in fact have the claimed 50% range increase. The F-22 and Superhornet are the first types to be intergrated with the D when is goes IOC. Either way the Meteor looks to be a far superior missile IMO.

[Pilotasso]

I would be very carefull believing that "50% increase in range" like that.

 

It could be true under certain circunstances, but for example linear flight path range will be most likely to be the same as in the C versions.

[D-Scythe]

The AIM-120D was flight tested on the F-22 in April to check for noise vibration damage. The missile is externally the same as the C, all the changes are internal. It has reportedly a 50% range increase over the latest C7. This increase in range is said to be because of an improved navigation system! No extra fuel or anything.

 

I heard it was the first AIM-120 variant to use the 5 inches in extra space that was made available in the AIM-120C5 (which was only filled with ballast, AFAIK).

 

I do not know if it has been test fired yet to see if it does in fact have the claimed 50% range increase. The F-22 and Superhornet are the first types to be intergrated with the D when is goes IOC. Either way the Meteor looks to be a far superior missile IMO.

 

Superior in terms of what? It is a given that the Meteor would have a longer range (it's carriers aren't stealthy afterall), but with the AIM-120's endless R&D funding, constant software updates and Raytheon's overall expertise in the area of radar missiles, I'm willing to bet that the AIM-120D's seeker and guidance would be smarter than even the Meteor's. Time and money talks IRL, and the AIM-120 program has both in spades.

[Pilotasso]

but with the AIM-120's endless R&D funding, constant software updates and Raytheon's overall expertise in the area of radar missiles, I'm willing to bet that the AIM-120D's seeker and guidance would be smarter than even the Meteor's. Time and money talks IRL, and the AIM-120 program has both in spades.

 

Well, the meteor is developed by raytheon as well. What the meteor lacks in trajectory smartness will more than compensate for shear range surpassing most fighters radar range to engage the targets in the first place (example of the gripen).

[D-Scythe]

Well, the meteor is developed by raytheon as well. What the meteor lacks in trajectory smartness will more than compensate for shear range surpassing most fighters radar range to engage the targets in the first place (example of the gripen).

 

No, Raytheon is not really involved with Meteor development AFAIK. Wasn't the FMRAAM, the Meteor's competitor, proposed by Raytheon?

 

Scratch that. Raytheon proposed the FMRAAM, to compete with Meteor for the future European BVRAAM contract. They lost.

 

And I know that the Meteor has a longer range - probably much longer range - than the AIM-120C/D. Doesn't mean the AIM-120 doesn't have superior performance in a heavy decoy/ECM/chaff environment though.

[TucksonSonny]

The AIM-120D was flight tested on the F-22 in April to check for noise vibration damage. The missile is externally the same as the C, all the changes are internal. It has reportedly a 50% range increase over the latest C7. This increase in range is said to be because of an improved navigation system! No extra fuel or anything.

 

It was said that it was found during tests of the C7 on the F-22 that certain vibrations at certain frequencies caused or could cause damage to the missile because the cards in the C7 are arranged differently than other models. There has been no other news since on the D which was known as the C8. I do not know if it has been test fired yet to see if it does in fact have the claimed 50% range increase. The F-22 and Superhornet are the first types to be intergrated with the D when is goes IOC. Either way the Meteor looks to be a far superior missile IMO.

 

 

Ooh yeah me too, since I have GPS in my car I can do twice the distance with the same amount of fuel.

I don’t buy it if it is not ram-jet technology!

[nscode]

I would be very carefull believing that "50% increase in range" like that.

 

It could be true under certain circunstances, but for example linear flight path range will be most likely to be the same as in the C versions.

 

Yeah.. "increase in range because of an improved navigation system,no extra fuel" probably means it now uses full kinetic potential and doesnt do some silly thing that slowed it down before

[GGTharos]

What some (probably most) of you guys don't know is that the 120 is a very unstable missile - so unstable that at first even lofting was a difficult thing to do soe the 120 didn't loft originally.

 

Being that it is unstable, it likely wastes a lot of speed in draggy trajectory-maintenance steering - just to stay on course. It is possible that they were able to reduce the amount of steering required for this.

 

Another possibility is that range is increased against maneuvering targets by finding ways to preserve energy by means such as damping steering inputs or g-limiting them, to prevent a draggy long-range steering maneuver to the intercept point where it's not needed, though that's an old trick in and of itself and I'm quite certain that the AMRAAM was already capable of doing this.

[D-Scythe]

Um, I don't see where any source says that the only difference between the AIM-120D and the AIM-120C7 is the navigation system. The article that Cobra referenced only suggests that it is "a" difference. Furthermore, in the article, it never attributed the 50% range increase to only the updated navigation system either - in fact, the general idea I'm getting from the article was that the AIM-120D is being tested on the F-22 to validate how noise and vibration would affect the systems on the missile in a launch.

 

http://www.afmc.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123019277

[hitman]

http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-120.html

[TucksonSonny]

http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-120.html

 

Looks like the 50% increased range of the 120D was versus the 120A/B (30/45 miles for the 120A/B vs 65 miles for the 120C/D)

BTW, In contrast with conventional missiles (like 120C/D) capable of maximum Mach 4,

ramjet missile gives it sustained Mach 4 speed in order to chase and destroy targets even at the outer edges of the missile's range.