
By Storm @Adobestock.com
Raytheon and Kongsberg have completed a live-fire test for its new ground-launched Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Extended Range missile (AMRAAM-ER) for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS). The AMRAAM-ER could increase the engagement envelope for the NASAMS with a 50% increase in range and a 70% increase in altitude. There is some chatter that Raytheon is looking to offer the extended-range variant as an air-to-air missile and has performed digital tests for the possibility of fitting the AMRAAM-ER into the internal carriage of an F-35. The new missile variant gets its boost in range from a bigger motor and optimized flight control algorithms. Robin Hughes of Janes writes (abridged):
Raytheon Missiles & Defense (RMD) and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) completed the first two live-fire tests of the new-design Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile – Extended-Range (AMRAAM-ER) surface-to-air interceptor at Andøya Space, Norway, in late April.
Conducted on 20 and 22 April respectively, but disclosed on 12 May, the two controlled test vehicle (CTV) shots were telemetry tests designed to assess the missile performance and launcher interfaces, a Raytheon spokesperson told Janes. The tests also provided critical flight data that will be used to improve the AMRAAM-ER’s future software algorithm development.
Intended as the principal extended-range interceptor for the KDA and Raytheon National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), AMRAAM-ER is set to expand the NASAMS engagement envelope with a 50% increase in maximum range, and a 70% increase in maximum altitude. Specific range and altitude intercept data are not disclosed.
Steve Schneider
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