AIM-9X - Primo Lancio Guidato

[Unholy]

Salve raga!

 

L'8 Luglio, sulla base di Edwards, è stato effettuato il primo lancio guidato di questo nuovo missile da un F-16. Il bersaglio, però, non era della USAF! Come sempre, la NAVY vuole il missile per prima... Il bersaglio era un drone della NAVY.

Il primo aereo, comunque, ad utilizzare l'AIM-9X sarà l'F-16 (con Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System - JHMCS). Poi verrano aggiornati F/A-18E-F e F-15. Per l'F-22 e F-35, l'integrazione averrà solo in futuro.

Mi domando: Non doveva essere uno dei missile standard dell'F-22?

E allora perchè sarà la NAVY ad averlo in linea per prima? Sembra che i primi lotti di seri saranno per la NAVY....

[Gemini]

Per l'F-22 e F-35, l'integrazione averrà solo in futuro.

Mi domando: Non doveva essere uno dei missile standard dell'F-22?

Infatti!

Non doveva essere compatibile al 100% con i nuovi caccia?

 

Forse la Marina ha "unto le ruote"

[Gianni065]

Questa notizia dovresti spiegarmela meglio, magari citando la fonte.

 

Dev'esserci qualcosa che non va.

 

L'AIM-9X è pienamente operativo dal 17 marzo 2004, quando un F-15 di Tyndall ha lanciato e colpito un bersaglio teleguidato.

 

Si trattava del 67° lancio di AIM-9X, ma fino a quel momento erano stati utilizzati solo piloti collaudatori e aerei dei reparti di valutazione.

 

Si tenga conto che l'AIM-9X aveva già raggiunto la IOC (Capacità Operativa Iniziale) sin dal Novembre del 2003, con gli F-15 del 12th e 19th FS di Elmendorf AFB (3th Wing): sono stati i primi F-15 dotati di JHMCS.

 

Nel corso dei test sono stati abbattuti già decine e decine di bersagli (solo dal 1999 al 2001 ben 18 QF-4 Phantom II).

 

Questa l'agenzia stampa dell'epoca della Raytheon:

 

Raytheon's AIM-9X Achieves Initial Operating Capability with the U.S. Air Force

"(Source: Raytheon Co.; issued Nov. 13, 2003)

ALASKA, ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE --- The U.S. Navy and Raytheon Company celebrated today the achievement of initial operational capability of AIM-9X with the U.S. Air Force. The 12th and 19th Fighter Squadrons of the 3rd Wing, 11th Air Force, are the first operational units to field and train with AIM-9X. "

 

E questo il sito con le foto dell'evento:

 

http://homepage.mac.com/topcover/PhotoAlbum39.html

 

Probabilmente la notizia che riporti si riferisce ai collaudi in corso a Edwards dall' aprile di quest'anno, per l'integrazione di AIM-9X e JHMCS sull' F-16.

 

L' F-22 , per quanto mi risulta, entrerà in servizio operativo con la piena compatibilità con il missile AIM-9X.

[Unholy]

Ok, John, hai ragione... (come sempre!)

Si tratta del terzo lancio da un F-16!

Però è il primo con l'uso del JHMCS...

Inoltre, l'F-15 e l'F/A-18C e D hanno già operativo l'AIM9-X...

Comunque, riproduco il texto e la fonte, poiché rimane il dubbio sull'integrazione sull'F-22 (anzi, si parla di F/A-22) e F-35. Sai perché?

 

In first guided launch of AIM-9X, F-16 kills subscale drone

Aerospace Daily & Defense Report07/19/2004

 

The first guided launch of the AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missile was successfully conducted July 8 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., the Air Force reported July 16.

 

Maj. Bill Peris, a test pilot with the 416th Flight Test Squadron, fired the short-range dogfight missile from an F-16, scoring a kill against a Navy subscale drone, the Air Force said. It was the third AIM-9X launch from an F-16, the first two having been unguided.

 

Peris was flying at medium altitude in an operationally representative engagement, the Air Force said. It said a C-130 crew, taking off from Naval Air Weapons Station Point Mugu, Calif., released the target drone over a test range at China Lake Naval Air Weapons Center, Calif., where the test mission took place.

 

Peris said the missile performed as expected and proved its combat effectiveness against the acquired target, according to an Air Force announcement.

 

The AIM-9X uses the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS), which will allow pilots to acquire and track targets beyond their line of sight and engage targets not possible with previous AIM-9 variants, the Air Force said. It said Peris acquired the drone and tracked it using the JHMCS, which also is under test at Edwards for integration with the AIM-9X.

 

"The addition of the AIM-9X to the F-16 arsenal creates a lethal combination that will make it more than a match for any adversary," Peris said in the announcement. "The aircraft has always excelled in the visual arena, and with this weapon it will be untouchable."

 

The third shot is one of a series of tests designed to clear the AIM-9X for operational use on the F-16, the Air Force said, adding that the missions are part of the F-16 M4+ software update test project at Edwards. The Air Force said M4+ is an improved avionics system that will be used in upgrading about 600 F-16s.

 

The Edwards test team will continue to clear the F-16 flight envelope for the AIM-9X, with the next guided launch planned for late summer. "We're in low rate initial production" on the AIM-9X, Sara Hammond, a spokeswoman for Raytheon Co., said July 16. "We're getting ready to go into full rate production later this year."

 

Full rate production was approved in May by the Navy, the lead agency for the program. John Young, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, signed the Acquisition Decision Memorandum for the program on May 15 (DAILY, May 1 .

 

Full production won't begin until fall because of last year's grounding of the QF-4 target drone, which in turn delayed the AIM-9X's operational evaluation (DAILY, July 30). In response to the delay, the Navy awarded Raytheon a fourth LRIP contract worth $82 million last month (DAILY, April 13).

 

The AIM-9X has been integrated onto the Air Force F-15C and Navy F/A-18C/D. In addition to the F-16, it also will be carried by the Navy F/A-18E/F. Integration on the Air Force's F/A-22 and the F-35 is expected later. The Navy and Air Force plan to produce a total of about 10,000 AIM-9X missiles through 2018.

 

The Air Force declared initial operational capability with the AIM-9X in November 2003 at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The Navy achieved IOC for the AIM-9X with Marine squadrons at Iwakuni, Japan, in February 2004.

 

In the U.S., the AIM-9X is replacing the AIM-9M. South Korea also plans to use AIM-9Xs on its Boeing F-15Ks, and Poland will use them on its F-16C/Ds. Denmark also has expressed interest in the system. Legacy AIM-9s are operated by 40 nations.

[Gianni065]

Ok, adesso mi trovo.

 

Per quanto rigurda F-22 ed F-35, è tutto normale: l' F-22 sta entrando adesso nella fase delle valutazioni operative, in cui tutti i sistemi d'arma saranno integrati, provati, testati, omologati e dichiarati prima IOC e poi FULL-OC.

 

Chiaramente queste procedure impiegano molti mesi, se non anni.

 

Quindi è normale che l'F-22 sembra in ritardo rispetto ad F-15, F-16 ed F-18, ma è un ritardo relativo: infatti sta procedendo secondo la propria tabella di marcia, dovendo integrare decine e decine di armamenti diversi.

[-{-Legolas-}-]

Aggiornamento, con un upgrade software, anche l'F-16 è ora in grado di colpire bersagli in movimento in mare col AIM-9X, come gia l'F-15 prima di lui fu in grado di colpire bersagli in movimento al suolo.

 

Raytheon thus demonstrated the capability to employ the AIM-9X Sidewinder advanced infrared-guided air-to-air missile to attack surface targets.

 

"With a software upgrade, AIM-9X retains its air-to-air capabilities and gains an air-to-surface capability," said Harry Schulte, Raytheon Missile Systems vice president of Air Warfare Systems. "AIM-9X now has the potential to take on an additional mission at a very affordable cost."

 

The test marks the third time an AIM-9X engaged moving surface targets. In April 2008, a U.S. Air Force F-16 launched an AIM-9X and sank a maneuvering boat, and in March 2007, a U.S. Air Force F-15C fired an AIM-9X and destroyed a fast-moving armored personnel carrier.

 

The AIM-9X was launched for the first time from an F-16 Fighting Falcon on April 9th 2004.

http://www.f-16.net/news_article3929.html

[super64des]

Aggiornamento, con un upgrade software, anche l'F-16 è ora in grado di colpire bersagli in movimento in mare col AIM-9X, come gia l'F-15 prima di lui fu in grado di colpire bersagli in movimento al suolo.

 

Raytheon thus demonstrated the capability to employ the AIM-9X Sidewinder advanced infrared-guided air-to-air missile to attack surface targets.

 

"With a software upgrade, AIM-9X retains its air-to-air capabilities and gains an air-to-surface capability," said Harry Schulte, Raytheon Missile Systems vice president of Air Warfare Systems. "AIM-9X now has the potential to take on an additional mission at a very affordable cost."

 

The test marks the third time an AIM-9X engaged moving surface targets. In April 2008, a U.S. Air Force F-16 launched an AIM-9X and sank a maneuvering boat, and in March 2007, a U.S. Air Force F-15C fired an AIM-9X and destroyed a fast-moving armored personnel carrier.

 

The AIM-9X was launched for the first time from an F-16 Fighting Falcon on April 9th 2004.

http://www.f-16.net/news_article3929.html

Non conoscevo questa capacità dell'AIM-9X:la tendenza di puntare su armi "multiruolo" come le nuove versioni dell'AMRAAM sembra ormai ben avviata.Ma potrà essere impiegato solo contro obiettivi dotati di una certa traccia IR(veicoli) o anche contro personale?

 

PS/OT:ora non possiamo più obiettare che nei film a basso costo i soliti F16 di Aquile d'acciao usano i SIdewinder per attaccare bersagli al suolo

[cama81]

più semplicemente gli usa hanno i soldi per testare le armi in ogni condizione , ma non è che i piloti usino le paveway per abbattere gli hind , anche se questo è successo realmente almeno una volta .

[-{-Legolas-}-]

E' pur vero, che le guerre dell'ultima generazione pongono il problema di intervenire per eliminare rapidamente gli obiettivi mobili e sfuggenti come i leader di Al-Quaeda, di cui la posizione accertata è garantita per una finestra di tempo ristretta.

 

Avere un velivolo UAV sempre in volo, significa questo.

 

Ma riuscire a dirottare un velivolo qualsiasi dotato di AIM-9X su un'obiettivo inatteso, è un asso nella manica, praticamente tutti gli aerei USA che ne sono dotati potrebbero servire allo scopo.

[Blue Sky]

Interessante anche se un po datato!

 

AIM-9 X

[SayGoodbye]

Anche questo video è particolarmente indicativo

 

Mostra appieno le doti del AIM9X

Angoli di ingaggio veramente incredibili l'ultima parte è davvero impressionante non credete?

Modificato 7 Settembre 2010 da SayGoodbye

[Andrea75]

First supersonic AIM-9X launch from an F-22 Raptor

 

[Alpino]

Mi ricordo di aver letto che lanciare missili heat seeking dalla stiva di un aereo come il raptor era problematico perché il missile deve agganciare il bersagli ancora prima di di essere lanciato, ho letto una boiata?

[Andrea75]

test di volo per l'AIM-9X Sidewinder anche sull'F-35B F-35B aircraft test flight with AIM-9X Sidewinder

 

Navy test pilot Lt. Christopher Tabert flies F-35B aircraft BF-3 with inert AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles Sept. 19 over the Atlantic Test Ranges. The test flight evaluated airplane structural loads and flying qualities during maneuvering flight.

 

[Andrea75]

Netherlands to buy AIM-9X 2 sidewinder missiles

 

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress October 16 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the Netherlands for 28 AIM-9X-2 SIDEWINDER Block II All-Up-Round Missiles and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $60 million.

 

The Government of the Netherlands has requested a possible sale of 28 AIM-9X-2 SIDEWINDER Block II All-Up-Round Missiles, 20 CATM-9X-2 Captive Air Training Missiles, 2 AIM-9X-2 NATM Special Air Training Missiles, 2 CATM-9X-2 Block II Missile Guidance Units, 2 AIM-9X-2 Block II Tactical Guidance Units, 2 Dummy Air Training Missiles, containers, missile support and test equipment, provisioning, spare and repair parts, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical data, U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance and other related logistics support.

 

The estimated cost is $60 million.

[Andrea75]

Segnalo questo aricolo che parla dell'AIM-9X Sidewinder Air-to-Air Missile

 

AIM-9X Sidewinder development

Design features of AIM-9X Sidewinder

Guidance and navigation

Propulsion

AIM-9X orders and deliveries

[Andrea75]

... acquisti dalla Turchia http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2012/Turkey_12-12.pdf

 

 

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress Dec. 21 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Turkey for SIDEWINDER missiles and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $140 million.
The Government of Turkey has requested a possible sale of 117 AIM-9X-2 SIDEWINDER Block II All-Up-Round Missiles, 6 AIM-9X-2 Block II Tactical Guidance Units, 6 Dummy Air Training Missiles, 130 LAU-129 Launchers, containers, missile support and test equipment, provisioning, spare and repair parts, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical data, U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance and other related logistics support. The estimated cost is $140 million.
Turkey is a partner of the United States in ensuring peace and stability in the region. It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist our North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability that will contribute to an acceptable military balance in the area. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives.
The Turkish Air Force is modernizing its fighter aircraft to better support its own air defense needs. The proposed sale of AIM-9X-2 missiles will improve Turkey’s capability for self defense, modernization, regional security, and interoperability with the U.S. and other NATO members, making it a more valuable partner in an increasingly important area of the world. Turkey will have no difficulty absorbing these missiles into its armed forces.

 

[TT-1 Pinto]

AIM-9X Block II .... oltre le previsioni ....

 

 

AIM-9X Block II performing better than expected ....

The Raytheon AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder is about halfway through its operational testing and, thus far, the weapon is performing better than expected with one exception, the US Navy says

Fonte .... http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/aim-9x-block-ii-performing-better-than-expected-381569/

[TT-1 Pinto]

Verso un AIM-9 a lungo raggio ?

 

Raytheon Looks At Options For Long-Range AIM-9 ....

 

Raytheon is looking at ways to respond to an urgent U.S. Navy call for a new version of the AIM-9X Sidewinder with greatly increased range, Vice President for Air Warfare Systems Harry Schulte said at the Paris air show June 19.

Although the Block II version of the missile is still in operational testing, the Navy wants to get the long-range Block III into developmental testing by 2018, according to budget documents.

The Block III “overlaps the range capability” of the AIM-120 Amraam, Schulte says.

 

Fonte .... http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_06_19_2013_p0-589808.xml

 

Quale progresso nei confronti di quei primi Sidewinder che, impiegati dai Taiwanesi in una battaglia aerea ormai storica, tirarono giù 10 MiG cinesi nel Settembre del 1958 .... offrendo così, quale ricaduta, all'Unione Sovietica la possibilità di realizzare lo "Atoll" ....

 

According to a widely-reported story, during one of these air battles, one of the Sidewinders failed to explode when it struck the tail of a MiG.

The MiG pilot managed to stagger back home, and found upon landing that the unexploded Sidewinder missile was still jammed in his tailpipe.

This Sidewinder missile was passed along to Soviet intelligence, and the Soviets promptly proceeded to copy the design virtually bolt-for-bolt, producing the K-13 (AA-2 "Atoll") air-to-air missile.

 

Fonte .... http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Stories1/001-100/021_TaiwanF-86_Keng/story021.htm

[TT-1 Pinto]

Lo "Extended Range" AIM-9X potrebbe consentire alla US Navy di colpire i velivoli stealth cinesi ....

 

The Navy’s quandary: how to shoot down Chinese planes that can’t be detected by radar — before the Chinese jets get close enough to launch missiles of their own.

One possible solution: to use the enemy jets’ own heat against them.

 

Fonte .... https://medium.com/war-is-boring/5b1dfc2511bd

[fabio-22raptor]

La dottrina sembra essere quella del missile IR BVR per abbattere velivoli con una bassa RCS ... Molto dipenderà dallo sviluppo di sistemi tipo il Pirate che riescano a vedere a grande distanza la fonte di calore anche se ha gli ugelli di scarico schermati, sta volando a bassa velocità e a determinate altitudini, o con un determinato aspetto (del bersaglio) ... probabilmente queste dichiarazioni sono state rilasciate pensando al fatto che ne gli ugelli del J-20 ne quelli del PAK FA sembrano avere una grande schermatura.. Neanche ai Radar a dire il vero ...

[fabio-22raptor]

Block III

 

Fonte: Aviation Week

 

 

The U.S. Navy expects to award contracts soon for a longer-range version of the AIM-9X Sidewinder, known as Block III. Not only will it be a major change to the AIM-9X—retaining only the seeker, optical target detector (laser fuze) and data link of the Block II weapon—but its development is starting before the Block II has finished operational tests.

The Block III is associated with the Navy's effort to fit the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet with a Lockheed Martin infra-red search and track (IRST) system. The two systems are complementary, improving the ability of Navy fighters to operate in what a Boeing engineer calls an “RF (radio frequency)-denied environment” that will challenge X-band systems such as fighter radars and the seeker of the AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (Amraam).

With these developments, the U.S. Navy is following the lead of other air arms—notably, the Royal Air Force—in investing in non-RF sensors and weapons that work far outside the within-visual-range envelope. One key technology is better processing that has greatly improved the performance of IRST.

Competitive prototype contracts for the Block III missile's new warhead and body/motor will be issued this year and next, according to budget documents. The biggest change will be a larger, more powerful motor. The AIM-9X has the same 5-in.-dia. motor as the original AIM-9, and its improved performance over the older versions is a result of lower drag.

After competing the warhead and motor, the Navy expects to select a single Block III system design in fiscal 2015. That would lead to Milestone B approval and the start of engineering and manufacturing development in the second quarter of 2016, with developmental testing completed by the fourth quarter of 2018.

The Navy has not disclosed the Block III range target, but Raytheon's vice president for air warfare systems, Harry Schulte, says the goal “overlaps” the Amraam envelope. “It's more than a 10 percent impact,” he says. Boeing has also said that the Super Hornet IRST, tested on a Beech King Air this year, can achieve detection ranges compatible with Amraam.

Raytheon is studying options including a larger-diameter motor and pulsed motors, according to Schulte. Pulsed motors can provide a better optimized trajectory than a bigger motor, which can cause the missile to overspeed unless it flies a high, arcing trajectory. So far, however, there is no known operational pulsed motor in the U.S. The Israeli Rafael Stunner missile, under development for the David's Sling ballistic missile defense system and designed for simple adaptation into an AAM, has a three-pulse motor with boost, sustain and end-game stages.The threat that is driving Block III and IRST has not been identified, but China analyst Richard Fisher of the International Assessment and Strategy Center points to Chinese advances in X-band active, electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, which are able to be used as very powerful jammers. A large group of incoming aircraft jamming at megawatt power levels could make radar use challenging, he says.

Other air forces are farther down this road. “The U.K. went with IRST, Meteor and Asraam (AIM-132 Advanced-Short-Range AAM) on Typhoon for this very reason (intense jamming),” comments a British industry executive and former RAF fighter planner. MBDA's Asraam is not unlike the Block III concept. Its Raytheon-designed seeker is related to that of the AIM-9X, and it has a considerably larger motor.

The performance of the Typhoon's Pirate IRST has increased due to better processing and software since it entered service in 2007, says a Eurofighter engineer. The service-entry standard was “pretty raw.” Better processing exploits the fact that the IRST is extremely agile, capable of performing complex tailored scans, because its steering mirror is much lighter than a radar dish. It can scan faster than an AESA, in some cases, because it does not transmit. “The angular and thermal accuracy provides the processor with enough data to analyze the core and the edges” of objects in the field of view, the engineer says. “It's like a fingerprint.”

This is key to IRST performance, because as a passive system it provides no time-based range data, and has been historically susceptible to false alarms from stars, cloud reflections and ground targets. Better processing and fbriast scanning also make it possible to use geometrical techniques for range measurement.

The updated Pirate is believed to have shown its ability to detect the F-22 at significant ranges in 2010, when four of the stealth fighters were deployed to Lakenheath AFB in the U.K., according to European industry sources. Selex leads the EuroFirst consortium that produces Pirate, and its Skyward-G for the Saab JAS 39E Gripen uses similar technology.

The Super Hornet IRST mates a new processor to the sensor of the AAS-42, which was developed in the 1980s for the Grumman F-14D. It has already been supplied to export F-15 operators, including South Korea and Singapore, and is under contract for Saudi Arabia's new and upgraded F-15s.

[TT-1 Pinto]

Flight International riprende ora una notizia emersa un mese fa al Salone di Parigi ....

 

US Navy hopes to increase AIM-9X range by 60% ....

 

The US Navy is hoping to increase the range of the new Raytheon AIM-9X Block III by some 60% over current Sidewinder variants due to the unique needs of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) says.

The new weapon is scheduled to become operational in 2022.

"The Block III range requirement was in response to Joint Strike Fighter requirements in the 2020+ timeframe," NAVAIR says.

"The design is anticipated to increase AIM-9X employment ranges by 60%."

 

Link .... http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-navy-hopes-to-increase-aim-9x-range-by-60-388468/

[TT-1 Pinto]

AIM-9X Block II ..... arriva il via alla piena produzione .....

 

Newest Sidewinder Heads to Full Production .....

(09/04/2015)

The newest AIM-9X Block II air-to-air missile was cleared for full-rate production and delivery to the Air Force, Navy, and allied customers, manufacturer Raytheon announced on Sept. 3.

"We look forward to getting them into the hands of our warfighters as quickly as possible," program manager Navy Capt. Jim Stoneman said in the release .....

http://raytheon.mediaroom.com/2015-09-03-US-Navy-approves-full-rate-production-for-Raytheon-AIM-9X-Block-II

The Block II boasts an "updated electronics package [that] gives the missile features significant enhancements, like the ability to lock on after launch using a new datalink that supports beyond-visual-range engagements," company missile vice president Mike Jarrett added.

The Navy's full-rate production decision follows the completion of the missile's live fire testing requirements back in June.

The AIM-9X Block I missile entered service in 2003, and development of the Block II began in 2011, according to Raytheon.

Fonte ..... il 'Daily Report' dell' AFA .....