Short-range air-to-air missile enters service late following dispute over specifications
The MBDA ASRAAM short-range air-to-air missile has entered service with the UK Royal Air Force. The milestone follows a spat between the manufacturer and the Ministry of Defence as to whether the weapon met its specification.
ASRAAM is replacing the Raytheon AIM-9L Sidewinder on Panavia Tornado F3 air defence aircraft at three bases in the UK. Crews have been training with the infrared-guided IR missile since April.
Service entry was twice delayed by a combination of technical problems, a lack of platforms to equip with the missile and disagreement between MBDA and the MoD on the contracted specification (Flight International, 22-28 May 2001).
Wg Cdr Robin Birtwhistle, commanding officer F3 Operational Evaluation Unit, says the squadron has been developing ASRAAM tactics and operational doctrine for "nearly two years". For aircrew, the operating interface is the same as the missile ASRAAM replaces, he says, and experienced crews have required limited instruction before advancing to "free training".
Birtwhistle says ASRAAM has robust counter-countermeasures, "is very quick off the rail", has a high average fly-out speed and will be "hard to see coming as the motor has very little smoke and a reduced IR signature". ASRAAM is also known to have a significantly greater range and higher manoeuvrability than the AIM-9L.
ASRAAM seeker provides a "pseudo infrared search and track capability", says Birtwhistle, allowing crews to detect targets passively beyond visual range.
Simulated engagements have demonstrated tactical advantages, including the defeat of targets that choose to break off an engagement, as they cannot attain sufficient separation from the Tornado to escape being shot down, says Birtwhistle.
One operational source says equipping the F3 with ASRAAM provides RAF crews with experience ahead of Eurofighter Typhoon service entry - ASRAAM will be the fighter's standard short-range weapon in RAF service. Integration with the Typhoon is digital rather than analogue, while the use of a helmet-mounted display in the new fighter will make better use of ASRAAM's high off-bore sight capability.
Source: Flight International
