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ASRAAM

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ASRAAM
Two ASRAAM (centre) on an RAF Typhoon in 2007
TypeShort-range air-to-air missile
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Service history
In service1998
Used byRAF, IAF
Production history
ManufacturerMBDA UK
Unit cost>£200,000
VariantsCommon Anti-aircraft Modular Missile (Sea Ceptor/Sky Sabre)
Specifications
Mass88 kg (194 lb)
Length2.90 m (9 ft 6 in)
Diameter166 mm (6.5 in) (motor diameter)[1]
Wingspan450 mm
Warhead10 kg (22 lb) blast/fragmentation
Detonation
mechanism
laser proximity fuze and impact
Enginedual-burn, high-impulse solid rocket motor[2]
Operational
range
25+ km[3][4][5]
Flight altitudeN/A
Maximum speed Mach 3+[6]
Guidance
system
infrared homing, 128×128 element focal plane array, with lock-on after launch (LOAL) and strapdown inertial guidance[6]
Launch
platform
RAF Typhoon of 3 Squadron fires ASRAAM in 2007
ASRAAM at ILA 2006

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).[3] It retains a 50 g maneuverability provided by body lift and tail control.[7][1]

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.

The ASRAAM is also the base design for the Common Anti-Aircraft Modular Missile (CAMM) used by the British Army, Royal Navy and several allied forces in the surface-launched role. A surface-launched variant of the ASRAAM itself has been improvised for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

History

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In the 1980s, NATO countries signed a Memorandum of Agreement that the United States would develop the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), while a primarily British and German team would develop a short-range air-to-air missile to replace the Sidewinder. The team included the UK (Hawker Siddeley, by this point known as BAe Dynamics) and Germany (Bodensee Gerätetechnik) sharing 42.5 per cent of the effort each, Canada at 10 per cent and Norway at 5 per cent. The US assigned this missile the name AIM-132 ASRAAM.[8]

New ASRAAM

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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.[9]

This left Britain in charge of the project and they began redefining it purely to RAF needs, sending out tenders for the new design in August 1989. This led to the selection of a new Hughes focal plane array imaging array seeker instead of the more conventional design previously used, dramatically improving performance and countermeasure resistance. A UK contest in 1990 examined the new ASRAAM, the French MICA and a new design from Bodensee Gerätetechnik, their version of the ASRAAM tuned for German needs. In 1992 the Ministry of Defence announced that ASRAAM had won the contest, and production began in March that year. The German design, by now part of Diehl BGT Defence, became the IRIS-T.[8]

While ASRAAM was entering production, momentum behind US-led industrial and political lobbying grew significantly and, combined with the strengthening European economy, forced the US government to conclude testing in June 1996 and move away from the ASRAAM program.[10]

UK development and manufacture went ahead and the first ASRAAM was delivered to the Royal Air Force (RAF) in late 1998. It equips the RAF's Typhoon. It was also used by the RAF's Harrier GR7 and Tornado GR4 forces until their retirement. In February 1998 ASRAAM was selected by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) for use on their F/A-18 Hornets following competitive evaluation of the improved ASRAAM, the Rafael Python 4 and the AIM-9X,[8] and entered RAAF service in August 2004.[11] In March 2009 the RAAF successfully carried out the first in-service "Lock-on after launch" firing of an ASRAAM at a target located behind the wing-line of the "shooter" aircraft.[12]

Characteristics

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ASRAAM is a high speed, extremely manoeuvrable, heat-seeking, air-to-air missile. Built by MBDA UK, it is designed as a "fire-and-forget" missile.[9] ASRAAM is intended to detect and launch against targets at much longer ranges, as far as early versions of the AMRAAM, in order to shoot down the enemy long before it closes enough to be able to fire its own weapons. In this respect the ASRAAM shares more in common with the AMRAAM than other IR missiles, although it retains high manoeuvrability. To provide the needed power, the ASRAAM is built on a 16.51 cm (6½ inch) diameter rocket motor compared with Sidewinder's (AIM-9M and X) and IRIS-T's 12.7 cm (5-inch) motors (which trace their history to the 1950s unguided Zuni rocket). This gives the ASRAAM significantly more thrust and therefore increased speed and range up to 50 kilometres (31 mi).[4]

The main improvement is a new 128×128 resolution imaging infrared focal plane array (FPA) seeker manufactured by Hughes before they were acquired by Raytheon. This seeker has a long acquisition range, high countermeasures resistance, approximately 90-degree off-boresight lock-on capability, and the possibility to designate specific parts of the targeted aircraft (like cockpit, engines, etc.).[13] The ASRAAM also has a LOAL (Lock-on after launch) ability which is a distinct advantage when the missile is carried in an internal bay such as in the F-35 Lightning II. However in 2012 the requirement for ASRAAM internal carriage on the F-35 was dropped, and the aircraft now uses external carriage only.[14] The ASRAAM warhead is triggered either by laser proximity fuse or impact. A laser proximity fuse was selected because RF fuses are vulnerable to EW intervention from enemy jammers.[15] The increased diameter of ASRAAM also provides space for increased computing power, and so improved counter counter-measure capabilities compared with other dogfighting missiles such as AIM-9X.[citation needed]

Developments

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On 8 July 2014, Indian Ministry of Defence signed a £250m ($428m) contract with MBDA to purchase 384 ASRAAM short range air-to-air missile to equip its SEPECAT/HAL Jaguar strike aircraft fleet and replace the ageing Matra Magic R550. MBDA's offering overcame competition from competitors including Rafael's Python-5 missile, emerging as the winner in 2012. This built on an existing 2012 order for 493 MICA missiles to replace Matra S-530D and Magic II missiles as part of an Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 upgrade.[16][17]

In September 2015, the UK's MoD signed a £300 million contract for a new and improved version of the ASRAAM that would leverage new technological developments, including those from the CAMM missile. This variant would replace the current one when it goes out of service in 2022. A further £184 million contract was awarded in August 2016 to provide additional stocks of the new ASRAAM for the UK's F-35B. This new variant will be operationally ready on the Eurofighter Typhoon in 2018 and on the UK's F-35Bs from 2022 onwards.[5][18][19][needs update]

In February 2017, successful firing of ASRAAMs from F-35 Lightning IIs were conducted at Naval Air Station Patuxent River and Edwards Air Force Base in the USA. This represented the first time that a British-designed missile had been fired from an F-35 JSF and the first time any non-US missile had ever been fired from the aircraft.[20]

As of 31 January 2019, the Indian Air Force is testing the compatibility of the ASRAAM weapons system with the Sukhoi Su-30MKI, and aims to make the ASRAAM its standardised short range missile across multiple aircraft types, including the Tejas. Final testing and operational clearance are to be achieved by the end of 2019.[21] Bharat Dynamics Limited will produce the missile at its Bhanoor unit. The facility will also offer maintenance, repair and overhaul services.[22]

Variants

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ASRAAM P3I

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In 1995, Hughes and British Aerospace collaborated on the "P3I ASRAAM", a version of ASRAAM as a candidate for the AIM-9X program.[citation needed] The ultimate winner was the Hughes submission using the same seeker but with the rocket motor, fuse and warhead of the AIM-9M. The latter was a US Air Force stipulation to ease the logistics burden and save money by reusing as much as possible of the existing AIM-9 Sidewinder, of which 20,000 remained in the US inventory.[citation needed]

ASRAAM Block 6

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ASRAAM Block 6 standard, developed under the ASRAAM Sustainment programme, entered service on the Typhoon in April 2022,[23] and will enter F-35 service in 2024. The Block 6 introduces new and updated sub-systems, and replaces external cooling with a new internal cooler. The original Raytheon seeker has been replaced with a new UK-built seeker of higher resolution. There are no US-made components, meaning that it does not come under ITAR restrictions and can therefore be exported without US approval.[24][25]

Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM)

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Main article: CAMM (missile family)

At the DSEi conference in September 2007 it was announced that the UK MoD was funding a study by MBDA to investigate a replacement for the Rapier and Sea Wolf missiles for the Royal Navy and British Army respectively. The Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM) would share components with ASRAAM, such as the very low signature rocket motor from Roxel and the warhead and proximity fuze from Thales but with updated electronics, an active RF seeker and data link so allowing for mid-course corrections from suitably-equipped land or even air platforms.[26][27] CAMM began entering service in 2018 and has since be sold to nine other nations for both land and naval use. It has since become a family of weapons with a number of additional missile variants on order or in development.

Operational history

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An RAF F-35B armed with ASRAAM missiles.

Royal Air Force

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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.[28]

Armed Forces of Ukraine (Surface-launched ASRAAM)

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In August 2023 it emerged that Ukraine had been provided an unknown number of improvised ground-based launch platforms for ASRAAM. Developed in four months by a joint MBDA and MoD team, It has been used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to provide short range air defence (SHORAD) against Russian aerial threats such as helicopters, cruise missiles and drones such as the HESA Shahed 136. Images of the system appear to show a twin-launcher mounted on the back of a Supacat 6x6 vehicle, allowing it to remain mobile, whilst guidance can be provided by a Hawkeye electro-optical suite. The missile has a "fire and forget" capacity. Reportedly, the system has achieved a 90% success rate during operations. This system is not to be confused with the dedicated surface-launched development of ASRAAM, CAMM/Sky Sabre air defence system.[29][14][30][31] On 7 May 2024 footage was published showing the first confirmed loss of a Ukrainian ASRAAM Supacat based launcher which was destroyed by a ZALA Lancet.[32][33]

Operators

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Map with current operators of ASRAAM in blue and former operators in red.

Current operators

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 United Kingdom

Royal Air Force / Fleet Air Arm - Equips the Typhoon and F-35B Lightning in RAF and Royal Navy service.

 India

Indian Air Force – 384 ASRAAMs for SEPECAT Jaguar strike aircraft fleet.[16]

 Ukraine

Armed Forces of Ukraine - In August 2023 a surface-launched version of ASRAAM was reported mounted on a Supacat HMT chassis in Ukraine.[29][14][30]

Future operators

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 Qatar
Qatar Air Force
 Oman
Royal Air Force of Oman

Former operators

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 Australia

Royal Australian Air Force - Equipped the F/A-18A/B Hornet from 2004 until the aircraft's retirement in 2021. The RAAF uses the AIM-9X with the F/A-18F, EA-18G and F-35A.[34]

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b Asraam background (PDF), MBDA, archived from the original on 4 October 2013{{citation}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link).
  2. ^ "Asraam", RAF, MoD, archived from the original on 19 February 2007, retrieved 29 May 2014.
  3. ^ a b "ASRAAM". MBDS Systems. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b "ASRAAM". Science & Technology (documentary). jaglavaksoldier. Archived from the original on 18 June 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2009 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ a b "MOD signs £184 million contract to secure air-to-air missiles for the F-35B". Royal Navy. 16 August 2016. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  6. ^ a b "AIM-132 ASRAAM". FAS. Archived from the original on 16 March 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  7. ^ "Asraam", Typhoon, Star streak, archived from the original on 23 April 2012.
  8. ^ a b c Kopp, Carlo (January 1998). "Matra-BAe AIM-132 ASRAAM: The RAAF's New WVR AAM". Air Power Australia. 4 (4). Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  9. ^ a b "Advanced Short Range Air to Air Missile (ASRAAM)". Think Defence. Archived from the original on 31 May 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  10. ^ "Hughes wins AIM-9X". Flightglobal. 1 January 1997. Archived from the original on 5 September 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  11. ^ "Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM)". www.airforce-technology.com. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  12. ^ "RAAF has successfully fired ASRAAM at a target located behind the wing-line of the 'shooter' aircraft". Your Industry News. 9 March 2009. Archived from the original on 13 June 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2009.
  13. ^ "Australian ASRAAM Demonstrate Full Sphere Capability". Defense Update. Archived from the original on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  14. ^ a b c "Advanced Short Range Air to Air Missile (ASRAAM) - Think Defence". www.thinkdefence.co.uk. 5 November 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  15. ^ "'Talisman' ADS – БКО 'Талисман'". YouTube. Archived from the original on 30 November 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015..
  16. ^ a b Dhanjal, Swaraj Singh (8 July 2014). "India, UK sign deals worth 370 million". Live Mint. Archived from the original on 9 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  17. ^ Chandra, Atul (10 July 2014). "MBDA signs Indian ASRAAM contract". Flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 5 September 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  18. ^ "Britain Stockpiles New ASRAAM Missiles for the F-35". Defensenews.com. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.[dead link‍]
  19. ^ Larrinaga, Nicholas de (17 August 2016). "UK orders ASRAAMs to arm F-35s". IHS Janes. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  20. ^ "F-35 Successfully Conducts First Firings of MBDA's ASRAAM". F-35 Lightning II. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  21. ^ Aroor, Shiv (31 January 2019). "EXCLUSIVE: IAF Arming Su-30s With ASRAAMs, May Standardise Missile Across Fleet". Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  22. ^ "BDL &MBDA sign agreement to establish Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile facility in India". Archived from the original on 29 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  23. ^ Allison, George (2 May 2022). "ASRAAM Block 6 enters service on Typhoon". UK Defence Journal. Archived from the original on 2 May 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  24. ^ Allison, George (22 October 2021). "ASRAAM Block 6 to enter service on F-35 and Typhoon by 2024". UK Defence Journal. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  25. ^ "ASRAAM Block 6 enters service on Typhoon". 2 May 2022. Archived from the original on 2 May 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  26. ^ "Missiles and Fire Support at DSEi 2007", Defense update, archived from the original on 5 September 2008, retrieved 27 December 2007.
  27. ^ "Common Anti Air Modular Missile (CAMM) – Think Defence". thinkdefence.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 March 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  28. ^ Beale, Jonathan (16 December 2021). "RAF Typhoon jet shoots down 'small hostile drone' in Syria". BBC News. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021.
  29. ^ a b Newdick, Thomas; Rogoway, Tyler (4 August 2023). "Air-To-Air Missiles From UK Now Being Used By Ukraine As SAMs". The Drive. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  30. ^ a b "Ground-Launched Asraam Achieving 90% Hit Rate In Ukraine | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  31. ^ "The UK bolsters Ukraine's air defence after Putin's latest air strikes". GOV.UK. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  32. ^ "Documenting Ukrainian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine".
  33. ^ "Барражирующий боеприпас 'Ланцет' уничтожает пусковую установку AIM-132 ASRAAM на базе грузовика SupaCat ВСУ детонацией боекомплекта".
  34. ^ "MBDA ASRAAM in service with the RAAF has been successfully fired from the aircraft". MBDA. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
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