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F-35 operators start switching to AIM-9X Block II+
F-35 Armament, fuel tanks, internal and external hardpoints, loadouts, and other stores.
ASRAAM is now part of the UK CAMM family of missiles, probably zero chance it will be dropped for any other IR missile and has been refurbished for F-35.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAMM_(missile_family)
The CAMM (Common Anti-Air Modular Missile) series is a family of surface-to-air missiles developed by MBDA for the United Kingdom. CAMM shares some common features and components with the ASRAAM air-to-air missile, but with updated electronics and an active radar homing seeker. The Common Anti-Air Modular Missile is intended to replace the Sea Wolf missile on Type 23 frigates of the Royal Navy from 2017, the Rapier missile in British Army service from 2018 and is contributing to the updating of MBDA's ASRAAM in service with the Royal Air Force.
imacca
So, my understanding is that the RAAF uses ASSRAM on its FA18's??
Seems to be moving to the AIM9X after the purchase of FA18 f /g though.
i would guess from what i have read thats because the ASSRAM being a good missile for long range or over the shoulder LOAL IR shots, AIM9X is more versatile overall ( actually has an air/surface capability of sorts?? )and being a US product iit probably has a longer development life ahead of it.
With Brexit will the UK have and dosh for missile development??
That said i could see the RAAF keeping ASSRAM in the arsenal as its cleared for external carriage on the F35.
How reasonable would it be for a country with earlier model AIM9X to upgrade their rounds to the latest spec??
mixelflick
Warnings: 3
The more I think about the F-35 and the 9x, the more a quantum leap in capability it becomes..
So in the future it'll carry 4-6 AMRAAM's, as we know the 6 AMRAAM loadout is being accelerated. Adding 2 9x's (especially the LOAL capability and when slaved to the F-35's sensors) is going to give it additional BVR capabilites, and bring some much needed mixed seekers to the fight.
I do forsee a time when the F-35 will be WVR of an opponent. This may be due to ROE's (especially foreign air arms not familiar or comfortable with the sensor technology) and it's going to make the F-35 perhaps THE most dangerous WVR machine ever. The speed at which the F-35 can ID enemies vs. friendlies during a fight is blinding. In looking at Gulf War dogfights, F-15 pilots on numerous occasions waited until they could visually ID Mig-25's/29's given they look similar to F-15's.
In a furball that ID sequence is going to rapidly unfold in the Panther's favor. And when you add up its post stall/nose pointing authority plus the 9x's ability to hit things at 90 degree angles... it's game over for the bad guys.
Of course, we hope it never gets to WVR, but it's good to know the 9x will be on the menu if it does..
'mixelflick' said: "...I do forsee a time when the F-35 will be WVR of an opponent. This may be due to ROE's (especially foreign air arms not familiar or comfortable with the sensor technology) and it's going to make the F-35 perhaps THE most dangerous WVR machine ever. The speed at which the F-35 can ID enemies vs. friendlies during a fight is blinding...."
And so the dogfights begin again. Get over it. The F-35 has 650 ways to ID a bogey whilst the F-35 operators have plenty of confidence & knowledge of this system, which they can tailor specifically for their area of operations - with others - BVR.
viewtopic.php?f=55&t=5525&p=404068&hilit=Osley#p404068 [AVM Osley RAAF: F-35 650 Parameters BVR ID quote]
Dogfight? Dogfight!?! Did someone say DOGFIGHT???
spazsinbad wrote:
I read that and understand your point, but I'm not a fan of absolute statements.
You seem to be saying dogfights won't ever happen again. I'm saying although rare, it's still going to happen. Case in point: Dogfights of Desert Storm. The same DS where for the first time, more BVR kills were racked up vs. dogfights. Yet there was one instance where an F-15's first sparrow fell helplessly off the aircraft, its motor failing to ignite. The next sparrow missed. His 3rd and 4th missile's tracked, first one hit and 2nd flew through the fireball. By that time though, he was down to a WVR fight (at least on of those last 2 was a Sidewinder).
You can argue that the AMRAAM's PK is going to be higher in the F-35 vs other aircraft and I'd agree with you. But if the air force didn't think it was important, why did they make part of the requirements "rates like a Viper, can point its nose like a SH"? Why not eschew that altogether??
I'm just not a fan of absolute statements (i.e. dogfights are never going to happen again. Never is a long time. Let's settle on "extremely rare"..
Most of the time (hopefully) your side has the overview of the battlefield and BVR will be the future way to go.
But it is not always so clear…
When the situation or ROE require "visual identification" before engaging you are already WVR.
Heli and transport AC are relatively "easy", but for others it depends.
What does he have? Aircraft/weapon combination? Intentions?
And don't worry or let your sleep over it but missiles have the reputation of having a mind of their own.
In test, the missiles always function properly.
But you can not ask that of a missile that has been hanging on a vibrating launcher and flown though 3 tons of dust for its previous 100 hrs.
vilters wrote:
Yes, yes you can.
You create requirements to cover 100 hours on a vibrating launcher and fly through 3 tons of dust, and then you design for those requirements.
IMO, the better questions are
Have any missiles been designed to such requirements?
Have they been subjected to and passed any operational tests (not simply "analysis") duplicating those conditions?
That's a really good point. That and missiles have been known to... miss.
This is why the Block II plus news was so exciting. Take the stock internal air to ground loadout of 2 JDAM's and 2 AMRAAM's. One falls away harmlessly, the other misses. Or just one hits, and you still have other targets to prosecute. The addition of two 9x's gives you options. Hopefully, it's good enough for two additional BVR shots, and we know from data Sidewinders are generally better in terms of PK vs. most radar guided missiles (not sure if there's data on AMRAAM though).
Or, you can just run. In which case I'd rather be running with 2 9x's, vs. being naked...
Shack.
Link below to an example of what is just a fraction of the kind of testing that goes on in weapons development before something ever goes on a jet. In addition, each sub-component of a weapon has to complete component qualification testing consistent w DoD 5000 series instructions. It is very very comprehensive stuff.
https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/t ... s-complete
Here's an old NASA instruction from 1970; qual testing has only become more complex and comprehensive since then. It's part of why things that fly dont crash as often as they once did.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi ... 019569.pdf
That's one thing Americans do VERY well - thoroughly check out/test their weapons in very challenging scenarios. Post Vietnam, anyway.
When you hear a Super Hornet can carry every weapon in the Navy inventory, you know they've tested it 8 ways to Sunday. Whether or not the aircrew is proficient in using the weapon is another matter. But generally speaking, if something like the 9x has been cleared on the F-22, it's been cleared through the entire envelope. No small feat, considering the Raptor's capabilities...
firebase99
mixelflick wrote:
I agree with all you said. WVR SHOULD be rare, BVR is the future, however....why does the Raptor have a gun? better to have and not need...yadda, yadda, yadda.
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