Photo: Raytheon Raytheon has begun development on an extended range variant of the combat-proven Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Mis...
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| Photo: Raytheon |
The new missile will be even faster and more maneuverable than the current AMRAAM, and is designed specifically for ground-based air defense, which enable intercepts at longer range and higher altitudes.
Raytheon will integrate AMRAAM-ER into the Raytheon-Kongsberg NASAMS medium range air defense system, which currently uses the AMRAAM.
Flight tests of AMRAAM-ER are planned to begin before the end of the year.
More than 70 NASAMS fire units has been delivered to seven countries. It is the most commonly used Short and Medium Range Air Defense System in NATO.
Fielded in Norway for more than a decade, NASAMS is operationally deployed in the U.S. National Capital Region, Spain, Finland, the Netherlands, and an undisclosed country. It is also in production for Oman under a contract received last year.
AMRAAM® is a combat-proven air-to-air and surface-launch missile used by 36 countries, integrated on the F-15, F-16, F/A-18, F-22, Typhoon, Gripen, Tornado, Harrier, F-4 and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.
