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Aviation History
1988
1988 - 2801.PDF
(EFA, Sea Harrier, the F-16C, F-14, F-15, and F-18. The operation of the missile has two distinct phases. During the tracking phase the launch aircraft tracks the target, and this information is downloaded into the missile's guidance system. Once the missile is launched, the launch aircraft must continue to track the target and update the missile with this information. Once the missile is within range, its radar seeker head turns on for an active terminal guidance phase. The pilot of the launching aircraft is told when this has occurred, and is then free to take evasive action. Even before the first missile has entered operational service, a multi-stage improve ment programme is under way. On the one hand, Systems Command says that it has overcome all the technological problems, while on the other it claims that the new programme will solve reliability problems and increase the production rate. The improvements will include replacing the electronics by VLSI custom chips, possi bly utilising the new 1553B bus and Ada signal processing software. This will dramatically reduce the number of circuit boards in the missile. Heat production from these boards is likely to be about 10 per cent of the present level. The present mechanical gyro system in the inertial navigation section will be replaced by ring laser gyros. It seems unlikely that the travelling-wave-tube trans mitter will be replaced by a phased array. Although this would save weight (getting rid of the gimbal system) and improve look angle, the transmitter is one of the most crit ical parts of the missile, owing to ECCM characteristics. Such a change would involve another lengthy test programme, which Hughes would obviously like to avoid. The production targets for Amraam are formidable. The US Air Force plans to acquire 17,000 missiles, and the Navy 7,320, in an 11-year production run. Hughes, which produces the Phoenix and Maverick among others, is the prime contractor, with Raytheon, currently involved with Side winder and Sparrow, as the follower. The first production lot, due to be completed by the middle of 1989, is for 180 missiles: 105 from Hughes and 75 from Raytheon. The decision on full-scale prod uction will be made next year. This, it is hoped, will reach 3,000 a year. The missile is planned to be 60 per cent of the weight of the Sparrow missile it is replacing. As it is part of the family-of-weapons MoU mentioned earlier, the European countries involved in the programme were meant to acquire the missile by licensed production. In spite of the theory, the practice looks like being rather different. The problem lies with Hughes and Raytheon, who want 13 per cent as a licens ing fee. Although this is a big step forward from their initial position, which was alleged to be as much as 25 per cent, this has still been rejected by Euraam. These deadlocked negotiations are coupled with Hughes and Raytheon offering to sell European countries the missiles direct. The knock-down price of $475,000 apiece is going to be a tough one for Euraam to beat. Unless there is govern ment pressure on Hughes and Raytheon, there seems little incentive on the companies to soften their line to Euraam. This price is for the 330 Amraams which the MoD is allegedly interested in acquiring— presumably for the Sea Harrier. This is an urgent requirement, with the Sea Harrier improvement programme nearing comple tion, including the Ferranti Blue Vixen radar which is purpose-built to use the weapon. Germany has a similar problem. It, too, has an airframe—the updated F-4F with a radar, the Hughes APG65—which is intended to use Amraam. The Luftwaffe has purchased 200 Amraams direct from the USA. Obviously the big market for Amraam will be the European Fighter Aircraft. Euraam must still be in with a chance for this procurement programme. Despite the eclipse of the Sparrow by Amraam, development of the missile continues. It is unlikely that the US Congress will allow Amraam to be exported outside Nato in the foreseeable future, so there is still a large potential export market for Sparrow. One customer is Egypt, which wants to inte grate the missile on the F-16s it has on order. The APC-66 radar on the F-16A is incapable of firing Amraam anyway. The first guided Sparrow launch will occur later this year. For integration with the F-16A, the APG- 66 needs a continuous-wave illuminator for With Amraam coming into service, the Sparrow will be limited in future to export markets FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, I October 1988 31
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