6 March 2009
In a world first for an Air Force and an infra-red guided missile, Air Combat Group (ACG) of the Royal Australian Air Force has successfully carried out the first in-service 'Lock After Launch' firing of an ASRAAM (Advanced short-range air-to-air missile) at a target located behind the wing-line of the shooter aircraft.
The firing was conducted from an F/A-18 fighter aircraft, at low level and typical fighter speed, at a target located behind the fighter at a range in excess of 5km. The result was a direct hit on the target.
The engagement simulated a "chase down" situation by an enemy fighter and successfully demonstrated the potential for an all-round self protection capability with the ASRAAM. This capability is inherent on all platforms that provide pre-launch 'over the shoulder' designation information such as F/A-18, Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 JSF.
Commenting on the firing, a representative from Air Combat Group said this demonstration of ASRAAM capability is a major step forward for the RAAF and greatly increases the lethality of ACGs F/A-18 fleet. It is a credit to the RAAF-MBDA-DSTO team who worked together to deliver this capability edge to the fleet.
ASRAAM entered service with the RAAF in July 2004. To provide unique levels of in-service support, facilities for deeper maintenance and software support were established in Adelaide injecting some AUS$20 million into the South Australian economy over a period of 6 years. The software support facility, located at the Defence Science & Technology Organisation at Edinburgh (SA), allows Australia to modify the ASRAAM software in response to the Australian Defence Force's specific requirements. The deeper maintenance facility established at BAE Systems at Edinburgh Park provides the in-country capability to support the front line equipment.
Having entered service with the Royal Air Force in 2002, and deployed on Tornado, Typhoon, and shortly F-35 JSF, the ASRAAM programme has provided a unique opportunity for information exchange between the respective air forces, government departments and scientific organisations.
MBDA will be exhibiting a range of advanced air and naval weapon systems at Avalon 2009 and welcomes visits at Stand 2H9, Hall B to discuss the warfighting capabilities they provide.
An Australian F-18 Hornet has shot down a target with an ASRAAM missile fired in over-the-shoulder, lock-after-launch mode, a first for an in-service aircraft.
ASRAAM - Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile:
ASRAAM (Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile) is the most agile, modern air-to-air missile designed to dominate the combat mission from Within Visual Range to near Beyond Visual Range. The combat concept behind ASRAAM is designed to give the pilot the ability to engage the enemy, fire and get away without risking himself or his aircraft in a dogfight. ASRAAM unique capabilities enable it to defeat all short-range missiles, existing or planned, in close-in combat.
The missile system performance is attributed to a revolutionary design concept and state-of-the-art technology providing fast reaction time from button press to end game performance and giving ASRAAM the highest speed of any short-range missile.
ASRAAM high speed is achieved by means of a combination of low drag and rocket motor size. By using a 166mm (6.5ins) diameter motor, compared with other missiles which use a 127mm (5ins) motor, ASRAAM has approximately 70% more thrust and can maintain a high speed throughout its flight time.
Designed to outmanoeuvre target aircraft in short-range aerial engagements and to allow launch at high off-bore sight angles during such engagements, ASRAAM is a highly agile missile. The exceptional manoeuvrability is provided by a sophisticated control system using innovative body lift technology coupled with tail control.
ASRAAM provides the pilot with the ability to effectively engage targets from gun range to near Beyond Visual Range, with or without active RF emissions. The pilot can identify the threat passively and cue the missile using a Helmet Mounted Display, Infra-Red Search and Track (IRST) or radar. The missile imaging infrared seeker allows ASRAAM to fly out to the target passively.
ASRAAM maximum range is uncontested, and no other short-range air-to-air missile comes near to this capability, providing the ability to passively home beyond the limits of visual range and well into the realm traditionally thought of as Beyond Visual Range.
ASRAAM has three operating modes:
*For normal engagements of targets in the forward hemisphere, the lock before launch mode is selected.
*Engagement of targets beyond the seeker acquisition range is made possible using the lock after launch mode with target data provided by the aircraft sensors or third party.
*For close-in combat the aircraft sensors can give target positional data to the missile beyond the seeker off-bore sight limits of +/- 90 degrees. This now gives the pilot the capability to fire an over-the-shoulder shot in the lock after launch mode. In this scenario, the pilot can locate targets behind the aircraft using, for example, the Helmet Mounted Display (HMD). In this case the missile will launch and fly into the vector provided by the HMD, the seeker then acquires the target, engages and destroys it.
ASRAAM advanced Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) seeker provides the missile with a significant target acquisition capability, even in highly cluttered environments. Missile firing trials have demonstrated ASRAAM ability to engage a target in the most severe clutter and countermeasures environment. The missile is software based, allowing for future upgrade.
ASRAAM is a rail-launched missile, compatible with any aircraft currently carrying Sidewinder or AMRAAM.
In a world first for an Air Force and an infra-red guided missile, Air Combat Group (ACG) of the Royal Australian Air Force has successfully carried out the first in-service 'Lock After Launch' firing of an ASRAAM (Advanced short-range air-to-air missile) at a target located behind the wing-line of the shooter aircraft.
The firing was conducted from an F/A-18 fighter aircraft, at low level and typical fighter speed, at a target located behind the fighter at a range in excess of 5km. The result was a direct hit on the target.
The engagement simulated a "chase down" situation by an enemy fighter and successfully demonstrated the potential for an all-round self protection capability with the ASRAAM. This capability is inherent on all platforms that provide pre-launch 'over the shoulder' designation information such as F/A-18, Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 JSF.
Commenting on the firing, a representative from Air Combat Group said this demonstration of ASRAAM capability is a major step forward for the RAAF and greatly increases the lethality of ACGs F/A-18 fleet. It is a credit to the RAAF-MBDA-DSTO team who worked together to deliver this capability edge to the fleet.
ASRAAM entered service with the RAAF in July 2004. To provide unique levels of in-service support, facilities for deeper maintenance and software support were established in Adelaide injecting some AUS$20 million into the South Australian economy over a period of 6 years. The software support facility, located at the Defence Science & Technology Organisation at Edinburgh (SA), allows Australia to modify the ASRAAM software in response to the Australian Defence Force's specific requirements. The deeper maintenance facility established at BAE Systems at Edinburgh Park provides the in-country capability to support the front line equipment.
Having entered service with the Royal Air Force in 2002, and deployed on Tornado, Typhoon, and shortly F-35 JSF, the ASRAAM programme has provided a unique opportunity for information exchange between the respective air forces, government departments and scientific organisations.
MBDA will be exhibiting a range of advanced air and naval weapon systems at Avalon 2009 and welcomes visits at Stand 2H9, Hall B to discuss the warfighting capabilities they provide.
An Australian F-18 Hornet has shot down a target with an ASRAAM missile fired in over-the-shoulder, lock-after-launch mode, a first for an in-service aircraft.
ASRAAM - Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile:
ASRAAM (Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile) is the most agile, modern air-to-air missile designed to dominate the combat mission from Within Visual Range to near Beyond Visual Range. The combat concept behind ASRAAM is designed to give the pilot the ability to engage the enemy, fire and get away without risking himself or his aircraft in a dogfight. ASRAAM unique capabilities enable it to defeat all short-range missiles, existing or planned, in close-in combat.
The missile system performance is attributed to a revolutionary design concept and state-of-the-art technology providing fast reaction time from button press to end game performance and giving ASRAAM the highest speed of any short-range missile.
ASRAAM high speed is achieved by means of a combination of low drag and rocket motor size. By using a 166mm (6.5ins) diameter motor, compared with other missiles which use a 127mm (5ins) motor, ASRAAM has approximately 70% more thrust and can maintain a high speed throughout its flight time.
Designed to outmanoeuvre target aircraft in short-range aerial engagements and to allow launch at high off-bore sight angles during such engagements, ASRAAM is a highly agile missile. The exceptional manoeuvrability is provided by a sophisticated control system using innovative body lift technology coupled with tail control.
ASRAAM provides the pilot with the ability to effectively engage targets from gun range to near Beyond Visual Range, with or without active RF emissions. The pilot can identify the threat passively and cue the missile using a Helmet Mounted Display, Infra-Red Search and Track (IRST) or radar. The missile imaging infrared seeker allows ASRAAM to fly out to the target passively.
ASRAAM maximum range is uncontested, and no other short-range air-to-air missile comes near to this capability, providing the ability to passively home beyond the limits of visual range and well into the realm traditionally thought of as Beyond Visual Range.
ASRAAM has three operating modes:
*For normal engagements of targets in the forward hemisphere, the lock before launch mode is selected.
*Engagement of targets beyond the seeker acquisition range is made possible using the lock after launch mode with target data provided by the aircraft sensors or third party.
*For close-in combat the aircraft sensors can give target positional data to the missile beyond the seeker off-bore sight limits of +/- 90 degrees. This now gives the pilot the capability to fire an over-the-shoulder shot in the lock after launch mode. In this scenario, the pilot can locate targets behind the aircraft using, for example, the Helmet Mounted Display (HMD). In this case the missile will launch and fly into the vector provided by the HMD, the seeker then acquires the target, engages and destroys it.
ASRAAM advanced Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) seeker provides the missile with a significant target acquisition capability, even in highly cluttered environments. Missile firing trials have demonstrated ASRAAM ability to engage a target in the most severe clutter and countermeasures environment. The missile is software based, allowing for future upgrade.
ASRAAM is a rail-launched missile, compatible with any aircraft currently carrying Sidewinder or AMRAAM.
