April 14, 2006: An F-22 Raptor Flew for the First Time with an AIM-120D Missile Aboard

  • Published
  • Air Force Flight Test Center

An F-22 Raptor flew for the first time with an AIM-120D missile aboard. The test was to determine the effects of noise and vibration on the latest version of the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile missile, still under development.  

The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM is an American beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile capable of all-weather day-and-night operations. Designed with a 7-inch diameter form-and-fit factor, and employing active transmit-receive radar guidance instead of semi-active receive-only radar guidance, it has the advantage of being a fire-and-forget weapon when compared to the previous generation Sparrow missiles. When an AMRAAM missile is launched,  The AMRAAM is the world's most popular beyond-visual-range missile; more than 14,000 have been produced for the United States Air Force, the United States Navy, and 33 international customers.  The AMRAAM has been used in several engagements and is credited with sixteen air-to-air kills in conflicts over Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo, Kashmir, and Syria. Now over 30 years old in design, the AMRAAM is due to be replaced by the new AIM-260 JATM, which will offer better long-range performance and ability to defeat electronic warfare jamming.

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