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A newly revealed experiment surfaced this week that has the potential to take out North Korean ICBM’s. Northrop Grumman and the Missile Defense Agency conducted the test in 2014 using a ground based distributed aperture radar system (DAS). The test results, along with analysis from Los Alamos National Laboratories, showed that an F-35 armed with a Raytheon AIM-120 missile had the capability to shoot down a ICBM in boost phase. But there’s a “limited range and seeker capability with the AMRAAM” says Rear Adm. Jon Hill, deputy director of MDA.
As the U.S. Airforce (USAF) begins to upgrade the F-22 with the new AIM-120D Advanced Medium-range Air to Air missile, those limitations could disappear. Raytheon states that the AIM-120D is built with upgrades to previous AMRAAM missiles by increasing attack range, GPS navigation, inertial measurement units and a two-way data link. Kris Osborn of the National Interest points out, operational testing of the new software and weapons technology for the F-22 is already being conducted by the USAF.
Another part of the weapons upgrade includes engineering the F-22 to fire the AIM-120D, a beyond visual range Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), designed for all weather day-and-night attacks; it is a “fire and forget” missile with active transmit radar guidance, Raytheon data states. The AIM-120D is built with upgrades to previous AMRAAM missiles by increasing attack range, GPS navigation, inertial measurment units and a two-way data link, Raytheon statements explain.
The Air Force is now conducting operational tests of new software and weapons technology for the F-22 designed to help modernize the stealth fighter and expand the range of weapons it is able to fire in combat, service and industry officials said.
Air Force officials have told Scout Warrior that, by 2019, the service will begin upgrading F-22 functionality for the AIM-120D and AIM-9X Air-to-Air missiles as well as enhanced Air-to-Surface target location capabilities. The F-22 currently carries the AIM-9X Block 1 and the current upgrade will enable carriage of AIM-9X Block 2.
Current operational testing of the F-22 is focused upon a 3.2B software upgrade for the fighter, allowing it to quickly integrate weapons upgrades, Air Force officials said.
“The F-22 Increment 3.2B program is a hardware and software upgrade to enhance the lethality of the F-22 through the employment of the AIM-120D and AIM-9X missiles. Recent testing enabled the program to complete developmental flight test and enable its entry into the Initial Operational Testing and Evaluation (IOT&E) phase of the program. During this phase, tests are conducted on production representative aircraft to determine whether the upgrade is operationally effective and suitable for intended use by pilots and maintenance personnel. The results of IOT&E will support the decision to proceed into full rate production,” Capt. Emily Grabowski, Air Force spokeswoman, told Scout Warrior.
Raytheon AIM-9X weapons developers explain that the Block 2 variant adds a redesigned fuze and a digital ignition safety device that enhances ground handling and in-flight safety. Block II also features updated electronics that enable significant enhancements, including lock-on-after-launch capability using a new weapon datalink to support beyond visual range engagements, a Raytheon statement said.
Another part of the weapons upgrade includes engineering the F-22 to fire the AIM-120D, a beyond visual range Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), designed for all weather day-and-night attacks; it is a “fire and forget” missile with active transmit radar guidance, Raytheon data states. The AIM-120D is built with upgrades to previous AMRAAM missiles by increasing attack range, GPS navigation, inertial measurment units and a two-way data link, Raytheon statements explain.
The most recent contract award was to Raytheon Missile Systems as the prime contractor in Sep 2017, for software upgrades that will continue to improve the performance of the AIM-120D in an electronic attack environment, Grabowski said.
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