An
air-to-air missile (
AAM) is a guided
missileA missile is a self-propelled projectile used as a weapon. Missiles are typically propelled by rockets or jet engines. Missiles generally have one or more explosive warheads, although other weapon types may also be used...
fired from an
aircraftAn aircraft is a vehicle which is able to fly by being supported by the air, or in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil An aircraft is a vehicle which is able to fly by being supported...
for the purpose of destroying another aircraft. AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid fuelled but sometimes liquid fuelled.
RamjetA ramjet, sometimes referred to as a stovepipe jet, or an athodyd, is a form of jet engine using the engine's forward motion to compress incoming air, without a rotary compressor...
engines, as used on the
MBDA MeteorMeteor is an active radar guided beyond-visual-range air to air missile being developed by MBDA to equip the Eurofighter Typhoons of the UK's Royal Air Force , Germany's Luftwaffe, Spain's Ejército del Aire and Italy's Aeronautica Militare Italiana, the F-35 of the British Royal Navy, the Dassault...
(currently in development), are emerging as propulsion that will enable future medium-range missiles to maintain higher average speed across their engagement envelope.
Air-to-air missiles are broadly put in two groups. The first consists of missiles designed to engage opposing aircraft at ranges less than around 20 miles, these are known as short-range or “within visual range” missiles (SRAAMs or WVRAAMs) and are sometimes called “
dogfightA dogfight, or dog fight, is aerial combat between fighter aircraft. Dogfighting first appeared during World War I, shortly after the invention of the airplane, and has since became a component in every major war despite beliefs after World War II that increasingly greater speeds and longer range...
” missiles because they emphasize agility rather than range. These usually use infra-red guidance, hence also being called heat-seeking missiles. The second group consists of medium- or long-range missiles (MRAAMs or LRAAMs), which both fall under the category of
beyond visual rangeA Beyond Visual Range missile usually refers to an air-to-air missile that is capable of engaging at ranges beyond 20 nautical miles...
missiles (BVRAAMs). BVR missiles tend to rely upon some sort of radar guidance, of which there are many forms, modern ones also using inertial guidance and/or "mid-course updates".
History
The air-to-air missile grew out of the unguided
air-to-air rocketAn air-to-air rocket or air interception rocket is an unguided projectile fired from aircraft to engage other flying targets. They were used briefly in World War I to engage enemy observation balloons and in and after World War II to engage enemy bombers...
s used during the First World War.
Le Prieur rocketLe Prieur rockets were a type of incendiary air-to-air rockets used in World War I against observation balloons and airships. They were invented by the French Lieutenant Yves Le Prieur and were first used in the Battle of Verdun on 1916. Due to great inaccuracy their range was limited to about 115 m...
s were sometimes attached to the struts of biplanes and fired electrically, usually against observation balloons, by such early pilots as
Albert BallAlbert Ball VC, DSO & Two Bars, MC was an English First World War fighter pilot and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British or Commonwealth armed forces...
and A. M. Walters. German experience in
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
demonstrated that destroying a large aircraft was quite difficult, and they had invested considerable effort into
guided missileGuided Missile is a London based independent record label set up by Paul Kearney in 1994.Guided Missile has always focused on 'the underground', preferring to put out a steady flow of considered and quality releases and developing the numerous and now essential GMevents around London and...
systems like the never deployed
Ruhrstahl X-4The Ruhrstahl X-4 was a wire guided air-to-air missile designed by Germany during World War II. The X-4 did not see operational service and thus was not proven in combat...
to do this.
Post-war research led the
Royal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the United Kingdom's air force, the oldest independent air force in the world. Formed on 1 April 1918, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history ever since, playing a large part in World War II and in more recent conflicts.The RAF operates almost 1,109...
to introduce
Fairey FireflashThe Fairey Fireflash was the first British air-to-air missile. Generally unsuccessful, it served only in small numbers.-Development:Produced in response to a Ministry of Supply requirement for a guided air-to-air missile. The project began in 1949 under the name Blue Sky...
into service in 1955 but their results were unsuccessful. The US Navy and US Air Force began equipping guided missiles in 1956, deploying the USAF's
AIM-4 FalconThe Hughes AIM-4 Falcon was the first operational guided air-to-air missile of the United States Air Force.-Development:Development of a guided air-to-air missile began in 1946. Hughes Aircraft was awarded a contract for a subsonic missile under the project designation MX-798, which soon gave way...
and the USN's
AIM-7 SparrowThe AIM-7 Sparrow is a medium-range semi-active radar homing air-to-air missile operated by the United States Air Force, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps, as well as various allied air forces and navies. Sparrow and its derivatives were the West's principal beyond visual range ...
and
AIM-9 SidewinderThe AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft and recently, certain gunship helicopters. Variants and upgrades remain in active service with many air forces after five decades...
. The
Soviet Air ForceThe Soviet Air Force, officially known in Russian as Военно-воздушные силы or Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily and often abbreviated VVS was the official designation of one of the air forces of the Soviet Union...
introduced its
Kaliningrad K-5The Kaliningrad K-5 , also known as RS-1U or product ShM, was an early Soviet air-to-air missile.-History:...
into service in 1957. As missile systems have continued to advance, modern air warfare consists almost entirely of missile firing. The faith in
Beyond Visual RangeA Beyond Visual Range missile usually refers to an air-to-air missile that is capable of engaging at ranges beyond 20 nautical miles...
combat became so pervasive in the US that early
F-4The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the U.S. Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. Proving highly adaptable, it became a major part of the air wings of the United States...
variants were armed only with missiles in the 1960s. High casualty rates during the
Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War or the Second Indochina War was a Cold War military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1959 to 30 April 1975...
caused the US to reintroduce
autocannonAn autocannon is a rapid-fire projectile weapon firing a shell as opposed to the bullet fired by a machine gun. Autocannon often have a larger caliber than a machine gun . Usually, autocannon are smaller than a field gun or other artillery, and are mechanically loaded for a faster rate of fire...
s and traditional dogfighting tactics but the missile remains the primary weapon in air combat. In the
Falklands WarThe Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict/Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
British
HarriersThe Harrier Jump Jet, often referred to as just "Harrier" or "the Jump Jet", is a British designed military jet aircraft capable of Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing via thrust vectoring...
were able to defeat faster Argentinian opponents using AIM-9L missiles provided by the United States as the conflict began
http://www.thehistorychannel.co.uk/site/microsites/Falklands/index_microsite.php?microsite=Falklands&target=The_Harrier§ion=626. The latest heat-seeking designs can
lock-onMissile lock-on refers to a scenario where the guidance system for a missile can accurately track a target, and a fire-control system can calculate the required flightpath for the missile to hit the target...
to a target from various angles, not just from behind, where the heat signature from the engines is strongest. Other types rely on radar guidance (either on-board or "painted" by the launching aircraft).
Guidance
Guided missiles operate by detecting their target (usually by either
radarRadar is an object detection system that uses electromagnetic waves to identify the range, altitude, direction, or speed of both moving and fixed objects such as aircraft, ships, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The term RADAR was coined in 1941 as an acronym for RAdio Detection And...
or
infraredInfrared radiation is electromagnetic radiation whose wavelength is longer than that of visible light , but shorter than that of terahertz radiation and microwaves...
methods, although rarely others such as
laser guidanceLaser guidance is a technique of guiding a missile or other projectile or vehicle to a target by means of a laser beam. Some laser guided systems utilise beam riding guidance, but most operate more similarly to semi-active radar homing . This technique is sometimes called SALH, for Semi-Active...
or optical tracking), and then “homing” in on the target on a collision course.
The target is usually destroyed or damaged by means of an explosive warhead, often throwing out fragments to increase the lethal radius, typically detonated by a
proximity fuzeA proximity fuze is a fuze that is designed to detonate an explosive device automatically when the distance to target becomes smaller than a predetermined value or when the target passes through a given plane....
(or impact fuze if it scores a direct hit).
Note that although the missile may use radar or infra-red guidance to home on the target, this does not necessarily mean that the same means is used by the launching aircraft to detect and track the target before launch. Infra-red guided missiles can be “slaved” to an attack radar in order to find the target and radar-guided missiles can be launched at targets detected visually or via an
infra-red search and trackAn infra-red search and track system is a method for detecting and tracking objects which give off infrared radiation such as jet aircraft and helicopters. IRST is a generalized case of FLIR, i.e. from Forward-Looking to allround situational awareness...
(IRST) system, although they may require the attack radar to illuminate the target during part or all of the missile interception itself.
Radar guidance
Radar guidance is normally used for medium or long range missiles, where the infra-red signature of the target would be too faint for an infra-red detector to track. There are two major types of radar-guided missile - active and semi-active.
Radar guided missiles can be countered by rapid maneuvering (which may result in them “breaking lock”, or may cause them to overshoot), deploying
chaffChaff, originally called Window by the British, and Düppel by the World War II era German Luftwaffe, is a radar countermeasure in which aircraft or other targets spread a cloud of small, thin pieces of aluminium, metallised glass fibre or plastic, which either appears as a cluster of secondary...
or using electronic counter-measures.
Active radar homing
Active radar (AR)-guided missiles carry their own radar system to detect and track their target. However, the size of the radar antenna is limited by the small diameter of missiles, limiting its range which typically means such missiles have to use two methods to get close to the target before turning their radar set on, often relying on guidance systems.
Semi-active radar homing
Semi-active radar (SAR)-guided missiles are simpler and more common. They function by detecting the radar energy reflected from the target, the radar energy is emitted from the launch aircraft's own radar signal. However, this means the launch aircraft has to maintain a “lock” on the target (keep illuminating the target aircraft with its own radar) until the missile makes the interception, limiting the attacking aircraft's ability to maneuver, which may be necessary should threats to the attacking aircraft appear. It also makes jamming the missile lock easier because the launching aircraft is further from the target than the missile, so the radar signal has to travel further and is greatly attenuated over the distance.
Beam riding
An early form of radar guidance was “beam-riding” (BR). In this method the attacking aircraft directed a narrow beam of radar energy at the target. The air-to-air missile was launched into the beam where sensors on the aft of the missile controlled the missile, keeping it within the beam. So long as the beam was kept on the target aircraft, the missile would ride the beam until making the interception. While simple in concept, the difficulty of simultaneously keeping the beam solidly on the target (which couldn't be relied upon to cooperate by flying straight and level), continuing to fly one's own aircraft, all the while keeping an eye out for enemy countermeasures, can be readily appreciated.
Infrared guidance
Infrared guided (IR) missiles home on the heat produced by an aircraft. Early infra-red detectors had poor sensitivity, so could only track the hot exhaust pipes of an aircraft. This meant an attacking aircraft had to maneuver to a position behind its target before it could fire an infra-red guided missile. This also limited the range of the missile as the infra-red signature soon become too small to detect with increasing distance and after launch the missile was playing “catch-up” with its target.
More modern infra-red guided missiles can detect the heat of an aircraft's skin, warmed by the friction of airflow, in addition to the fainter heat signature of the engine when the aircraft is seen from the side or head-on. This, combined with greater maneuverability, gives them an “
all-aspectAn all-aspect missile is one which is able to track a target no matter which way the target faces relative to the missile. In other words, an all-aspect missile can be launched against a target in a tail-chase engagement, in a head-on engagement, in a side-on engagement, from above, from below,...
” capability, and an attacking aircraft no longer had to be behind its target to fire. Although launching from behind the target increases the probability of a hit, the launching aircraft usually has to be closer to the target in a
tail-chase engagementA tail-chase engagement is one where a surface-to-air missile system or jet aircraft engages another aircraft while the target aircraft is flying away from the attacker...
.
An aircraft can defend against infra-red missiles by dropping
flaresA flare is an aerial infrared countermeasure to counter an infrared homing surface-to-air missile or air-to-air missile. Flares are commonly composed of a pyrotechnic composition based on magnesium or another hot-burning metal, with burning temperature equal to or hotter than engine exhaust...
that are hotter than the aircraft, so the missile homes in on the brighter, hotter target. Towed decoys and infra-red jammers can also be used. Some large aircraft and many combat helicopters make use of so called "hot brick" infra-red jammers, typically mounted near the engines. Current research is developing laser devices which can spoof or destroy the guidance systems of infra-red guided missiles.
However, the latest missiles such as the ASRAAM use an “imaging” infra-red seeker which “sees” the target (much like a digital video camera), and can distinguish between an aircraft and a point heat source such as a flare. They also feature a very wide detection angle, so the attacking aircraft does not have to be pointing straight at the target for the missile to lock on. The pilot can use a helmet mounted sight (HMS) and target another aircraft by looking at it, and then firing. This is called “off-boresight” launch. For example, the Russian Su-27 is equipped with an infra-red search and track (IRST) system with laser rangefinder for its HMS-aimed missiles.
In order to maneuver sufficiently from a poor launch angle at short ranges to hit its target, missiles are now employing
gas-dynamicA gas-dynamic control system is one where the path of an object in flight is controlled by either the generation or redirection of gas flow out of an orifice rather than with the traditional movable control surfaces...
flight control methods such as vectored thrust, which allow the missile to start turning “off the rail”, before its motor has accelerated it up to high enough speeds for its small aerodynamic surfaces to be useful.
Electro-optical
A recent advancement in missile guidance is
electro-optical imaging. The Israeli Python-5 has an electro-optical seeker that scans designated area for targets via optical imaging. Once a target is acquired, the missile will lock-on to it for the kill. Electro-optical seekers can be programmed to target vital area of an aircraft, such as the cockpit. Since it does not depend on the target aircraft's heat signature, it can be used against low-heat targets such as UAV's and cruise missiles.
However clouds can get in the way of electro-optical sensors.
Passive Anti-radiation
Evolving missile guidance designs are converting the anti-radiation missile (ARM) design, pioneered during Vietnam and used to home in against emitting surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites, to an air intercept weapon. Passive missile development is thought to be a countermeasure to low-observable stealth aircraft which typically mount powerful air intercept radars. Due to their dependence on target aircraft radar emissions, passive anti-radiation missiles are primarily limited to forward-aspect intercept geometry.
Design
Air-to-air missiles are typically long, thin cylinders in order to reduce their cross section and thus minimize drag at the high speeds at which they travel.
At the front is the seeker, either a radar system, radar homer, or infra-red detector. Behind that lies the avionics which control the missile. Typically after that, in the centre of the missile, is the warhead, usually several kilograms of high explosive surrounded by metal that fragments on detonation (or in some cases, pre-fragmented metal).
The rear part of the missile contains the propulsion system, usually a rocket of some type.
Dual-thrustIn a dual-thrust solid fuel rocket motor, the propellant mass is composed of two different types or densities of fuel. In the case of a tandem dual-thrust motor, the fuel closest to the rocket nozzle burns fast and the fuel further into the motor's body burns slower...
solid-fuel rockets are common, but some longer-range missiles use liquid-fuel motors that can “throttle” to extend their range and preserve fuel for energy-intensive final maneuvering. Some solid-fuelled missiles mimic this technique with a second rocket motor which burns during the terminal homing phase. There are missiles in development, such as the
MBDA MeteorMeteor is an active radar guided beyond-visual-range air to air missile being developed by MBDA to equip the Eurofighter Typhoons of the UK's Royal Air Force , Germany's Luftwaffe, Spain's Ejército del Aire and Italy's Aeronautica Militare Italiana, the F-35 of the British Royal Navy, the Dassault...
, that “breathe” air (using a
ramjetA ramjet, sometimes referred to as a stovepipe jet, or an athodyd, is a form of jet engine using the engine's forward motion to compress incoming air, without a rotary compressor...
, similar to a jet engine) in order to extend their range.
Modern missiles use “low-smoke” motors — early missiles produced thick smoke trails, which were easily seen by the crew of the target aircraft alerting them to the attack and helping them determine how to evade it.
Missile range
Missiles are often cited with their maximum engagement range, which is very misleading. A missile's effective range is dependent on factors such as altitude, speed, position, and direction of target aircraft. For example the Vympel R-77 has stated range of 100 km. That is only true for a head-on, non-evading target at high altitude. At low altitude, the effective range is reduced by as much as 75%–80% to 20–25 km. If the target is taking evasive action, or in stern-chase position, the effective range is further reduced. See
Air-to-Air missile non-comparison table for more information. The effective range of an air-to-air missile is known as the “no-escape zone”, noting the range at which the target can not evade the missile once launched.
Poorly-trained pilots, are known to fire their missiles at maximum-range engagement with poor results. In the 1998–2000
Eritrean-Ethiopian WarThe Eritrean-Ethiopian War took place from May 1998 to June 2000 between Ethiopia and Eritrea, forming one of the conflicts in the Horn of Africa...
, fighters from both sides shot over a dozen medium-range
R-27 (AA-10 Alamo)The Vympel R-27 is a medium-range air-to-air missile developed by the Soviet Union. It remains in service with the CIS and Russian Air Force....
missiles at distance with little effect. But when better-trained Ethiopian
Su-27The Sukhoi Su-27 is a one-seat Mach-2 class jet fighter plane originally manufactured by the Soviet Union, and designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau...
pilots gave chase and attacked with short-range
R-73 (AA-11 Archer)The Vympel R-73 developed by Vympel machine-building design bureau, is the most modern Russian short-range air-to-air missile.-Development:...
missiles, the results were often deadly to the Eritrean aircraft.
http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_189.shtml
Performance
A number of terms frequently crop up in discussions of air to air missile performance.
Launch success zone
- The Launch Success Zone is the range within which there is a high (defined) kill probability against a target that remains unaware of its engagement until the final moment. When alerted visually or by a warning system the target attempts a last ditch manoeuvre sequence.
F-Pole
- A closely related term is the A-Pole. This is the slant range between the launch aircraft and target, at the time of interception. The greater the F-Pole, the greater the confidence that the launch aircraft will achieve air superiority with that missile.
No-Escape Zone
- The No-Escape Zone is the zone within which there is a high (defined) kill probability against a target even if it has been alerted. This zone is defined as a conical shape with the tip at the missile launch. The cone's length and width are determined by the missile and seeker performance. A missile's speed, range and seeker sensitivity will mostly determine the length of this imaginary cone, while its agility (turn rate) and seeker complexity (speed of detection and ability to detect off axis targets) will determine the width of the cone.
Dogfight
Short-range air-to-air missiles used in “dogfighting” are usually classified into five “generations” according to the historical technological advances. Most of these advances were in infrared seeker technology (later combined with
digital signal processingDigital signal processing is concerned with the representation of the signals by a sequence of numbers or symbols and the processing of these signals. Digital signal processing and analog signal processing are subfields of signal processing...
).
First generation
Early short-range missiles such as the early Sidewinders and
Vympel K-13{Infobox Weapon|is_missile=yes|name=Vympel K-13|image=|caption=K-13 missiles on a MiG-23|origin=Soviet Union|type=short-range air-to-air missile|used_by=|manufacturer=Vympel|unit_cost=|propellant=|production_date=|service=1960...
(
AA-2 Atoll) had infrared seekers with a narrow (30 degree) field of views and required the attacker to position them self behind the target (
rear aspect engagementA tail-chase engagement is one where a surface-to-air missile system or jet aircraft engages another aircraft while the target aircraft is flying away from the attacker...
). This meant the target aircraft only had to perform a slight turn to move outside the missile seeker field of view and cause the missile to lose track of the target ("break lock").
Second generation
Second generation missiles utilized more effective seekers that improved the field of view to 45 degrees.
Third generation
This generation introduced “all aspect” missiles, because more sensitive seekers allowed the attacker to fire at a target which was side-on to itself, i.e. from
all aspects not just the rear. This meant that while the field-of-view was still restricted to a fairly narrow cone, the attack at least did not have to be behind the target.
Fourth generation
The
Vympel R-73The Vympel R-73 developed by Vympel machine-building design bureau, is the most modern Russian short-range air-to-air missile.-Development:...
(
AA-11 Archer) entered service in 1985 and marked a new generation of dogfight missile. These missiles employed more advanced seeker technologies such as focal plane arrays that improved resistance to infrared countermeasures (IRCM) such as flares and increased off-bore sight capability to in excess of 60 degrees, i.e. a 120 degree field of view.
To take advantage of the increased field-of-view that now exceeded the capabilities of most aircraft radars also meant that helmet mounted sights gained popularity.
Many newer missiles include what is known as “look-down-shoot-down” capability, as they could be fired onto low flying planes that would formerly be lost in ground clutter.
These missiles are also much more agile, some by employing
thrust vectoringThrust vectoring is the ability of an aircraft or other vehicle to direct the thrust from its main engine in a direction other than parallel to the vehicle's longitudinal axis. The technique was originally envisaged to provide upward vertical thrust as a means to give aircraft vertical or short ...
(typically
gimballed thrustGimbaled thrust is the system of thrust vectoring used in most modern rockets, including the Space Shuttle and the Saturn V lunar rockets.In a gimbaled thrust system, the exhaust nozzle of the rocket can be swiveled from side to side. As the nozzle is moved, the direction of the thrust is changed...
).
Fifth generation
The latest generation of short-range missiles again defined by advances in seeker technologies, this time electro-optical imaging infrared (IIR) seekers that allow the missiles to “see” images rather than single “points” of infrared radiation (heat). The sensors combined with more powerful
digital signal processingDigital signal processing is concerned with the representation of the signals by a sequence of numbers or symbols and the processing of these signals. Digital signal processing and analog signal processing are subfields of signal processing...
provide the following benefits:
http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/missile_systems/air_missiles/python/Python5.html
- greater infrared counter countermeasures (IRCCM) ability, by being able to distinguish aircraft from infrared countermeasures (IRCM) such as flares.
- greater sensitivity means greater range and ability to identify smaller low flying targets such as UAV
An unmanned aerial vehicle is an aircraft that flies without a human crew. Their largest uses are in military applications. To distinguish UAVs from missiles, a UAV is defined as a reusable, uncrewed vehicle capable of controlled, sustained, level flight and powered by a jet or reciprocating...
s.
- more detailed target image allows targeting of more vulnerable parts of aircraft instead of just homing in on the brightest infrared source (exhaust).
Examples of fifth generation missiles include:
- AIM-132 ASRAAM
The AIM-132 Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile is a British infrared homing air-to-air missile. It is currently in service in the Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force, replacing the AIM-9 Sidewinder in those services....
— Britain (1998–)
- AIM-9X Sidewinder — USA (2003–)
- IRIS-T
IRIS-T is a German-led program to develop a short-range air-to-air missile to replace the AIM-9 Sidewinder...
— German lead consortium (2005–)
- Python 5 — Israeli
- A-Darter
The A-Darter is a fifth generation short range infrared homing air-to-air missile designed and manufactured by the South African firm of Denel Aerospace Systems and Brazilian Mectron for the Brazilian Air Force ....
(under development) — South Africa
- Vympel R-73
The Vympel R-73 developed by Vympel machine-building design bureau, is the most modern Russian short-range air-to-air missile.-Development:...
— Russia (1994–)
- PL-10/PL-ASR — China
- AAM-5 — Japan
List of missiles by country
For each missile, short notes are given, including an indication of its range and guidance mechanism.
France
- Matra R550 Magic
The R550 Magic is a short-range missile designed in 1968 by French company Matra to compete with the American AIM-9 Sidewinder. On 11 January 1972, a Gloster Meteor of the centre for in-flight trials fired the R550 Magic and shot down a Nord CT20 target drone .Mass-produced from 1976, the Magic was...
— short-range, IR guided
- Matra Magic II — IR guided missile.
- Matra R530
The Matra R530 is a French medium to short range air-to-air missile.It was available in IR and SARH as the main armament of the Mirage III which was able to carry a single missile in the centerline, the Mirage F1, which carried 2 under the wings, and the F-8 Crusader in the French Navy...
— medium-range, IR or radar guided
- Magic Super 530F/Super 530D
The Matra Super 530 is a French medium to short range air-to-air missile. The Super 530 series is an improved type of the Matra R530 missile.*Super 530F is carried on the Dassault Mirage F1. It was introduced in 1979....
— medium-range, radar-guided
- MBDA MICA
The MBDA MICA is an anti-air multi-target, all weather, fire-and-forget short and medium-range missile system. It is intended for use both by air platforms as individual missiles as well as ground units and ships, which can be equipped with the rapid fire MICA Vertical Launch System...
— medium-range, IR or radar guided
Germany
- Ruhrstahl X-4
The Ruhrstahl X-4 was a wire guided air-to-air missile designed by Germany during World War II. The X-4 did not see operational service and thus was not proven in combat...
— World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
design, first practical anti-aircraft missile, MCLOSMCLOS is a first-generation method for guiding guided missiles.With an MCLOS missile, the operator must track the missile and the target simultaneously and guide the missile to the target. Typically the missile is steered with a joystick, and its path is observed through a periscope-type...
, never saw service
- Henschel Hs 298 — World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
design, MCLOSMCLOS is a first-generation method for guiding guided missiles.With an MCLOS missile, the operator must track the missile and the target simultaneously and guide the missile to the target. Typically the missile is steered with a joystick, and its path is observed through a periscope-type...
, never saw service
- MBDA Meteor
Meteor is an active radar guided beyond-visual-range air to air missile being developed by MBDA to equip the Eurofighter Typhoons of the UK's Royal Air Force , Germany's Luftwaffe, Spain's Ejército del Aire and Italy's Aeronautica Militare Italiana, the F-35 of the British Royal Navy, the Dassault...
- IRIS-T
IRIS-T is a German-led program to develop a short-range air-to-air missile to replace the AIM-9 Sidewinder...
European
- MBDA Meteor
Meteor is an active radar guided beyond-visual-range air to air missile being developed by MBDA to equip the Eurofighter Typhoons of the UK's Royal Air Force , Germany's Luftwaffe, Spain's Ejército del Aire and Italy's Aeronautica Militare Italiana, the F-35 of the British Royal Navy, the Dassault...
— medium range, active radar homingActive radar homing is a missile guidance method in which a guided missile contains a radar transceiver and the electronics necessary for it to find and track its target autonomously...
; design to replace AMRAAM
- IRIS-T
IRIS-T is a German-led program to develop a short-range air-to-air missile to replace the AIM-9 Sidewinder...
— short range infrared homingInfrared homing refers to a passive missile guidance system which uses the emission from a target of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared part of the spectrum to track it. Missiles which use infrared seeking are often referred to as "heat-seekers", since infrared is just below the visible...
; replacement for AIM-9 SidewinderThe AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft and recently, certain gunship helicopters. Variants and upgrades remain in active service with many air forces after five decades...
Iran
- Fatter — copy of U.S. AIM-9 Sidewinder
The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft and recently, certain gunship helicopters. Variants and upgrades remain in active service with many air forces after five decades...
- Sedjil — copy of U.S. MIM-23 Hawk
The Raytheon MIM-23 HAWK is an American medium range surface-to-air missile. As a backronym, some consider HAWK to stand for Homing All the Way Killer. The HAWK was initially designed to destroy aircraft and was later adapted to destroy other missiles in flight. The missile entered service in 1960,...
converted to be carried by aircraft
Israel
Italy
- Alenia Aspide — Italian manufactured version of the AIM-7 Sparrow
The AIM-7 Sparrow is a medium-range semi-active radar homing air-to-air missile operated by the United States Air Force, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps, as well as various allied air forces and navies. Sparrow and its derivatives were the West's principal beyond visual range ...
, based on the AIM-7E.
Japan
- AAM-3
The Mitsubishi AAM-3 is a short-range air-to-air missile developed in Japan. It has been operated since 1990, and is expected to ultimately replace the US AIM-9 Sidewinder, the missile upon which the AAM-3 is based....
— short-range Type 90 air-to-air missile
- AAM-4
The Mitsubishi AAM-4 is a medium-range radar-guided air-to-air missile developed in Japan and intended to replace the semi-active radar homing AIM-7 Sparrow missile in service...
— middle-range Type 99 air-to-air missile
- AAM-5
The Mitsubishi AAM-5 is a short-range air-to-air missile developed in Japan. According to a report by Janes.com dated January 31, 2007, the XAAM-5 is a prototype that is undergoing testing and is expected to enter service in 2008.-Specifications:* Length: 2,860 mm* Diameter: 126 mm* Wing...
— short-range Type 04 air-to-air missile
Pakistan
- Sarab 1 — Pakistani version of Matra Magic Missile, Short Range Missile Project Cancelled due to unsatisfactory results.
People's Republic of China
- PL-1 — PRC version of the Soviet
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. The name is a translation of the , tr. Soyuz Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik, abbreviated СССР, SSSR. The common short name is Soviet Union, from , Sovetskiy Soyuz...
Kaliningrad K-5The Kaliningrad K-5 , also known as RS-1U or product ShM, was an early Soviet air-to-air missile.-History:...
(AA-1 Alkali), retired.
- PL-2
{Infobox Weapon|is_missile=yes|name=Vympel K-13|image=|caption=K-13 missiles on a MiG-23|origin=Soviet Union|type=short-range air-to-air missile|used_by=|manufacturer=Vympel|unit_cost=|propellant=|production_date=|service=1960...
— PRC version of the Soviet Vympel K-13{Infobox Weapon|is_missile=yes|name=Vympel K-13|image=|caption=K-13 missiles on a MiG-23|origin=Soviet Union|type=short-range air-to-air missile|used_by=|manufacturer=Vympel|unit_cost=|propellant=|production_date=|service=1960...
(AA-2 Atoll), which was based on AIM-9B Sidewinder. http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/weapon/pl2.asp Retired & replaced by PL-5 in PLAAF service.
- PL-3
{Infobox Weapon|is_missile=yes|name=Vympel K-13|image=|caption=K-13 missiles on a MiG-23|origin=Soviet Union|type=short-range air-to-air missile|used_by=|manufacturer=Vympel|unit_cost=|propellant=|production_date=|service=1960...
— updated version of the PL-2, did not enter service.
- PL-5
The PL-5 air-to-air missile is a short-range, infra-red guided missile use by Chinese fighters...
— updated version of the PL-2, known versions include: http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/weapon/pl5.asp
- PL-5A — semi-active radar-homing AAM intended to replace the PL-2, did not enter service. Resembles AIM-9G in appearance.
- PL-5B — IR version, entered service in 1990s to replace the PL-2 SRAAM. Limited off-boresight
- PL-5C — Improved version comparable to AIM-9H or AIM-9L in performance
- PL-5E — All-aspect attack version, resembles AIM-9P in appearance.
- PL-7
The PL-7 air-to-air missile is the PRC version of the French Magic R.550 missile. It is a short-range, infra-red guided missile use by Chinese fighters...
— PRC version of the IR-homing French R550 MagicThe R550 Magic is a short-range missile designed in 1968 by French company Matra to compete with the American AIM-9 Sidewinder. On 11 January 1972, a Gloster Meteor of the centre for in-flight trials fired the R550 Magic and shot down a Nord CT20 target drone .Mass-produced from 1976, the Magic was...
AAM, did not enter service. http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/weapon/pl7.asp
- PL-8
The Python is a family of air-to-air missiles built by the Israeli weapons manufacturer RAFAEL Armament Development Authority. The first was the Shafrir-1 missile developed in 1959, followed by the Shafrir-2 in early 1970s...
— PRC version of the Israeli Rafael Python 3 http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/weapon/pl8.asp
- PL-9 — short range IR guided missile, marketed for export. One known improved version (PL-9C). http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/weapon/pl9.asp
- PL-10 — semi-active radar-homing medium-range missile based on the HQ-61 SAM, http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/weapon/pl10.asp often confused with PL-11. Did not enter service.
- PL-11
PL-11 is a high-level machine-oriented programming language for the PDP-11, developed by R.D. Russell of CERN in 1971. Written in Fortran IV, it is similar to PL360 and is and cross-compiled on other machines....
— medium-range air-to-air missile (MRAAM), based on the HQ-61C & Italian Aspide (AIM-7) technology. Limited service with J-8-B/D/H fighters. Known versions include: http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/weapon/pl11.asp
- PL-11 — MRAAM with semi-active radar homing, based on the HQ-61C SAM and Aspide seeker technology, exported as FD-60 http://mil.jschina.com.cn/huitong/missile.htm
- PL-11A — Improved PL-11 with increased range, warhead, and more effective seeker. The new seeker only requires fire-control radar guidance during the terminal stage, providing a basic LOAL (lock-on after launch) capability.
- PL-11B — Also known as PL-11 AMR, improved PL-11 with AMR-1 active radar-homing seeker.
- LY-60 — PL-11 adopted for navy ships for air-defense, sold to Pakistan but does not appear to be in service with the Chinese Navy. http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/navalmissile/ly60.asp
- PL-12 (SD-10) — medium-range active radar missile http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/weapon/pl12.asp
- TY-90
TY-90 is the first air-to-air missile specifically developed for helicopters in dogfights. The missile is developed by China with TY stands for Tian Yan , short for Sky Swallow . Contrary to the erroneous claims, the missile is not developed from MANPAD missiles such as QW-1 Vanguard, but...
— light IR-homing air-to-air missile designed for helicopters http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/weapon/ty90.asp
Russia/Soviet
- Kaliningrad K-5
The Kaliningrad K-5 , also known as RS-1U or product ShM, was an early Soviet air-to-air missile.-History:...
(NATO reporting nameNATO reporting names are unclassified code names for military equipment of the Eastern Bloc...
AA-1 'Alkali') — beam-riding
- Vympel K-13
{Infobox Weapon|is_missile=yes|name=Vympel K-13|image=|caption=K-13 missiles on a MiG-23|origin=Soviet Union|type=short-range air-to-air missile|used_by=|manufacturer=Vympel|unit_cost=|propellant=|production_date=|service=1960...
(NATO reporting name AA-2 'Atoll') — short-range IR or SARH
- Kaliningrad K-8
The Kaliningrad K-8 was a medium-range air-to-air missile developed by the Soviet Union for interceptor aircraft use.Developed by OKB-339/NII-339...
(NATO reporting name AA-3 'Anab') — IR or SARH
- Raduga K-9
The Raduga K-9 was a long-range air-to-air missile developed by the Soviet Union in the late 1950s. It was designed by MKB Raduga, a division of aircraft maker Mikoyan-Gurevich. The K-9 was also known as the K-155, and would apparently have had the service designation R-38...
(NATO reporting name AA-4 'Awl') — IR or SARH
- Bisnovat R-4
The Bisnovat R-4 was an early Soviet long-range air-to-air missile, initially designated K-80 or R-80.-History:Development of the R-4 began in 1959, entering operational service in 1963...
(NATO reporting name AA-5 'Ash') — IR or SARH
- Bisnovat R-40
The Bisnovat R-40 was a long-range air-to-air missile developed in the 1960s by the Soviet Union for use by interceptor aircraft.-Development:...
(NATO reporting name AA-6 'Acrid') — long-range IR or SARH
- Vympel R-23
The Vympel R-23 is a medium-range air-to-air missile developed by the Soviet Union for fighter aircraft. An updated version with greater range, the R-24, replaced it in service...
(NATO reporting name AA-7 'Apex') — medium-range SARAH or IR
- Molniya R-60
The Molniya R-60 is a lightweight air-to-air missile designed for use by Soviet fighter aircraft. It has been widely exported, and remains in service with the CIS and many other nations....
(NATO reporting name AA-8 'Aphid') — short-range IR
- Vympel R-33
The Vympel R-33 is a long-range air-to-air missile developed by the Soviet Union. It is the primary armament of the MiG-31 interceptor, intended to attack large high-speed targets such as the SR-71 Blackbird, the B-1 Lancer bomber, and the B-52 Stratofortress.Generally similar to the U.S...
(NATO reporting name AA-9 'Amos') — long range active radar
- Vympel R-27
The Vympel R-27 is a medium-range air-to-air missile developed by the Soviet Union. It remains in service with the CIS and Russian Air Force....
(NATO reporting name AA-10 'Alamo') — medium-range SARH or IR
- Vympel R-73
The Vympel R-73 developed by Vympel machine-building design bureau, is the most modern Russian short-range air-to-air missile.-Development:...
(NATO reporting name AA-11 'Archer') — short-range IR
- Vympel R-77
The Russian R-77 Missile is a medium range, air-to-air, active radar-guided missile system. It is the Russian counterpart to the American AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, thus gaining a nickname Amraamski....
(NATO reporting name AA-12 'Adder') — medium-range active radar
- Vympel R-37
The Vympel R-37 is a Russian air-to-air missile with an extremely long range. It has also had the names K-37, Izdeliye 610 and R-VD , and the NATO codename 'Andi'.It was designed to shoot down AWACS and other C4ISTAR aircraft whilst keeping the launch platform out of range of any...
(NATO reporting name AA-X-13 'Arrow') — long-range SARH or active radar
- Novator KS-172 AAM-L
The Novator K-100 is a Indian/Russian air-to-air missile designed as an "AWACS killer" at ranges up to 300–400 km . The missile has had various names during its troubled history, including Izdeliye 172 , AAM-L , KS–172, KS-1, 172S-1 and R-172...
— extreme long range, inertial navigation with active radar for terminal homing
South Africa
- A-Darter
The A-Darter is a fifth generation short range infrared homing air-to-air missile designed and manufactured by the South African firm of Denel Aerospace Systems and Brazilian Mectron for the Brazilian Air Force ....
— short range IR
- V3 Kukri — short range IR
- R-Darter
The R-Darter is a beyond visual range air-to-air missile using semi-active radar homing. It is designed and manufactured by the South African firm of Denel Aerospace Systems ....
— beyond visual range (BVR) radar-guided missile
United Kingdom
- Fireflash
The Fairey Fireflash was the first British air-to-air missile. Generally unsuccessful, it served only in small numbers.-Development:Produced in response to a Ministry of Supply requirement for a guided air-to-air missile. The project began in 1949 under the name Blue Sky...
— short range beam-riding
- Firestreak
The de Havilland Propellers Firestreak is a British first-generation, passive infrared homing air-to-air missile. It was developed by de Havilland in the early 1950s and was the first such weapon to enter active service with the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm, equipping the English Electric...
— short range IR
- Red Top
The Hawker Siddeley Red Top was the third indigenous British air-to-air missile to enter service, following the de Havilland Firestreak and limited-service Fairey Fireflash.-Development:...
— short range IR
- Skyflash
The British Aerospace Skyflash was a medium-range semi-active radar homing air-to-air missile derived from the US AIM-7 Sparrow missile and carried by Royal Air Force F4 Phantoms and Tornado F3s, Italian Air force and Royal Saudi Air Force Tornados and Royal Swedish Air Force Viggens...
— medium-range radar-guided missile based on the AIM-7E2, said to have quick warm-up times of 1 to 2 seconds.
- AIM-132 ASRAAM
The AIM-132 Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile is a British infrared homing air-to-air missile. It is currently in service in the Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force, replacing the AIM-9 Sidewinder in those services....
— short range IR
- MBDA Meteor
Meteor is an active radar guided beyond-visual-range air to air missile being developed by MBDA to equip the Eurofighter Typhoons of the UK's Royal Air Force , Germany's Luftwaffe, Spain's Ejército del Aire and Italy's Aeronautica Militare Italiana, the F-35 of the British Royal Navy, the Dassault...
— long range radar guided missile due to enter service in 2013.
United States
- AIM-4 Falcon
The Hughes AIM-4 Falcon was the first operational guided air-to-air missile of the United States Air Force.-Development:Development of a guided air-to-air missile began in 1946. Hughes Aircraft was awarded a contract for a subsonic missile under the project designation MX-798, which soon gave way...
— radar (later IR) guided
- AIM-7 Sparrow
The AIM-7 Sparrow is a medium-range semi-active radar homing air-to-air missile operated by the United States Air Force, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps, as well as various allied air forces and navies. Sparrow and its derivatives were the West's principal beyond visual range ...
— medium range semi-active radar
- AIM-9 Sidewinder
The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft and recently, certain gunship helicopters. Variants and upgrades remain in active service with many air forces after five decades...
— short range IR
- AIM-54 Phoenix
The AIM-54 Phoenix is a radar-guided, long-range air-to-air missile, carried in clusters of up to six missiles — formerly on the U.S. Navy's and currently on the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force's F-14 Tomcat interceptors/multi-role fighters: which is the only aircraft capable of carrying it.The...
— long range, semi-active and active radar
- AIM-120 AMRAAM
The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM , is a modern Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missile capable of all weather day and night performance. It is also commonly known as the Slammer in USAF service...
— medium range, active radar; replaces AIM-7 SparrowThe AIM-7 Sparrow is a medium-range semi-active radar homing air-to-air missile operated by the United States Air Force, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps, as well as various allied air forces and navies. Sparrow and its derivatives were the West's principal beyond visual range ...
See also
- Missile
A missile is a self-propelled projectile used as a weapon. Missiles are typically propelled by rockets or jet engines. Missiles generally have one or more explosive warheads, although other weapon types may also be used...
- Missile guidance
Missile guidance refers to a variety of methods of guiding a missile or a guided bomb to its intended target. The missile's target accuracy is a critical factor for its effectiveness...
- Guided missile
Guided Missile is a London based independent record label set up by Paul Kearney in 1994.Guided Missile has always focused on 'the underground', preferring to put out a steady flow of considered and quality releases and developing the numerous and now essential GMevents around London and...
- List of missiles
- Missile designation
The U.S. Department of Defense established a missile and rocket designation sequence, which is used in all weapons of the kind produced in the USA.-Explanation:The basic designation of every guided missile is based in a set of letters, which are in sequence...
External links