AIM-120 AMRAAM Missile

Manufacturer: Raytheon Technologies
Category: Missiles & Precision Weapons
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Guidance System Active Radar Homing, Inertial Navigation
Maximum Speed Mach 4+
Launch Compatibility F-15, F-16, F/A-18, F-22, F-35
Warhead Technology High-Explosive Fragmentation

Defense Systems Full Specifications

1. General Information

Name / Designation	AIM-120 AMRAAM
Type / Role	Air-to-Air Missile, Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR)
Country of Origin	United States
Manufacturer	Raytheon Technologies
Service Entry / Year Introduced	1991
Operational Status	Active

2. Performance & Range

Range	Up to 160 km (AIM-120D variant)
Speed	Mach 4+
Ceiling / Altitude Limit	Over 20,000 m
Accuracy (CEP)	<5 meters
Warhead Type	High-Explosive Fragmentation

3. Guidance & Targeting

Guidance System	Active Radar, Inertial Navigation
Targeting Mode	Fire-and-Forget
Launch Platform Compatibility	F-15, F-16, F/A-18, F-22, F-35
Seeker Type	Active Radar Seeker

4. Physical Characteristics

Length	3.7 m
Diameter	0.18 m
Wingspan	0.53 m
Launch Weight	152 kg
Propulsion	Solid-fuel Rocket Motor

5. Warhead & Payload

Warhead Weight	18 kg
Explosive Type	High-Explosive Fragmentation
Detonation Mechanism	Proximity / Impact Fuse
Payload Options	Conventional

6. Operational Use & Capabilities

Operational Range Type	Medium to Long
Deployment Platform	Air
Target Types	Aircraft, Drones, Cruise Missiles
Combat Proven	Yes
Users / Operators	United States, UK, Japan, NATO Allies

PROS

Proven combat record and global interoperability
Fire-and-forget engagement capability
Long-range radar-guided precision
Compatible with most U.S. and NATO aircraft
High speed and countermeasure resistance

CONS

Expensive production and maintenance cost
Requires advanced radar integration
Limited effectiveness against stealth targets
Export restrictions to certain allies
Dependent on consistent software upgrades

AIM-120 AMRAAM: The U.S. Air Dominance Missile

The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) stands as the U.S. Air Force and Navy’s premier beyond-visual-range missile. Designed and produced by Raytheon Technologies, the AIM-120 represents decades of evolution in radar-guided missile technology, delivering unmatched reliability and lethality in air combat scenarios.

Introduced in the early 1990s, AMRAAM succeeded the AIM-7 Sparrow by offering a fire-and-forget capability, allowing pilots to engage multiple targets simultaneously. The missile employs active radar homing for terminal guidance and inertial midcourse navigation, ensuring precision engagement even in high electronic warfare environments.

The AIM-120’s modular design supports continuous upgrades, with variants such as the AIM-120C-7 and AIM-120D, extending engagement ranges beyond 100 miles (160 km) and incorporating improved datalink connectivity and GPS updates. The latest AIM-120D-3 variant enhances kinematic performance and electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) capabilities for next-generation fighter aircraft like the F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II, and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

Powered by a solid-fuel rocket motor, the AMRAAM reaches speeds exceeding Mach 4, ensuring rapid interception of enemy aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles. Its high-explosive fragmentation warhead guarantees target destruction even in evasive maneuver conditions.

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Operational in over 40 countries, the AIM-120 has proven itself in multiple combat engagements, serving as a cornerstone of Western air defense and coalition interoperability.

AIM-120 AMRAAM Price in United State

The AIM-120 AMRAAM’s cost varies by version and contract, typically ranging between $1.2 million and $1.8 million per unit depending on the variant and included support package.

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