Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), also known by its United States designation AIM-132
In service 1998–present
ASRAAM), known by designation AIM-132
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History Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), also known by its United States designation AIM-132
In service 1998–present
The Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), also known by its United States designation AIM-132, is an imaging infrared homing air-to-air missile, produced by MBDA UK, that is designed for close-range combat. It is in service in the Royal Air Force (RAF), replacing the AIM-9 Sidewinder. The ASRAAM is designed to allow the pilot to fire and then turn away before the opposing aircraft can close for a shot. It flies at over Mach 3 to ranges in excess of 25 kilometres (16 mi).[4][8] It retains a 50 g maneuverability provided by body lift and tail control. The project started as a British-German collaboration in the 1980s. It was part of a wider agreement in which the US would develop the AIM-120 AMRAAM for medium-range use, while the ASRAAM would replace the Sidewinder with a design that would cover the great range disparity between the Sidewinder and the AMRAAM. Germany left the programme in 1989. The British proceeded on their own and the missile was introduced into RAF service in 1998. It is being introduced to the Indian Air Force, the Qatar Air Force and the Royal Air Force of Oman, and formerly saw service in the Royal Australian Air Force.
Operational history
Royal Air Force
On 14 December 2021 a RAF Typhoon operating against Islamic State in southern Syria shot down a hostile drone with an ASRAAM missile. This was the first time the British military had shot down an enemy aircraft since the Falklands War
Operators
Current operators
Royal Air Force / Fleet Air Arm – Equips the Typhoon and F-35B Lightning in RAF and Royal Navy service.
Indian Air Force – 384 ASRAAMs for SEPECAT Jaguar strike aircraft fleet.
Armed Forces of Ukraine – In August 2023, a surface-launched version of ASRAAM, called Raven, was reported mounted on a Supacat HMT chassis in Ukraine.
Photo Gallery
Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), also known by its United States designation AIM-132
In service 1998–present
Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), also known by its United States designation AIM-132 In service 1998–present
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ASRAAM), known by designation AIM-132
Production history Manufacturer MBDA UK Unit cost >£200,000 Variants Common Anti-aircraft Modular Missile (Sea Ceptor/Sky Sabre) Specifications Mass 88 kg (194 lb) Length 2.90 m (9 ft 6 in) Diameter 166 mm (6.5 in) (motor diameter) Wingspan 450 mm Warhead 10 kg (22 lb) blast/fragmentation Detonationmechanism Laser proximity fuze and impact
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Engine Dual-burn, high-impulse solid rocket motor Operationalrange - Air-to-air: 25+ km
- Surface-to-air: 15 km
Flight altitude N/A Maximum speed Mach 3+ Guidancesystem Imaging infrared homing, 128×128 element focal plane array, with lock-on after launch (LOAL) and strapdown inertial guidance Launchplatform - Royal Air Force: Typhoon
- Royal Air Force and Royal Navy: F-35 Lightning II
- Indian Air Force: Jaguar
- Vehicles
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Links to Youtube & Others
The rapid decline and eventual fall of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s led to considerably less interest in the ASRAAM. By February 1988 the US was already agitating for changes. In July 1989 the Germans exited the programme effectively ending the agreement. Various reasons are often cited including the ending of the Cold War and full realisation of the capabilities of the Russian R-73 missile, but many commentators think this was a smokescreen for financial and defence industrial share issues
ASRAAM), known by designation AIM-132
On 2 November 2023, Israeli Air Force claimed one of its F-35I have shot down an unidentified cruise missile,
Youtube Link
Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake experimented with Sidewinders in the air-to-ground mode including use as an anti-tank weapon
Read more in MBDA is a European multinational corporation specialized in the design, development and manufacturing of missiles and related systems
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