Category Archive: AAM Missiles (air-to-air)

AIM-120 AMRAAM

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The AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to- Air Missile (AMRAAM) was developed jointly by the US Air Force and Navy to succeed the AIM-7 Sparrow III. A 1980 Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) between the United States, Great Britain, and (West) Germany agreed that the medium-range missile would also be produced in Europe. Non way signed the …

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AIM-54 Phoenix

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The AIM-54A achieved its initial operational capability in 1974 with the introduction of the F-14A Tomcat. The Phoenix uses either an Aerojet Mk 60 or Rocketdyne Flexadyne Mk 47 long-burn-time solid-fuel rocket motor, semi-active radar midcourse guidance, active radar terminal guidance, and a impact or proximity fused 132 pound high explosive warhead. The missile is …

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AIM-9 Sidewinder

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The simple, effective infrared-homing Side­winder is the most widely used air-to-air mis­sile outside of the old Soviet Union with more than 110,000 having been produced. Develop­ment of the missile began in 1949 at the Naval Weapons Center at China Lake and the AIM-9 made its first flight on 11th September 1953. The Sidewinder is used …

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AIM-7 Sparrow

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An improved autopilot and better fusing, in the AIM-7F, was first introduced in 1977, solid- state electronics were substituted for the miniature vacuum tubes of the earlier versions. This miniaturization enabled the warhead to be moved forward of the wings, with the aft part of the missile being devoted almost entirely to the rocket motor. …

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