The 21 September first guided launch of a Raytheon AIM-120C AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missile from the Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor has been judged a "hit" by the US Air Force. Flying at subsonic speed and around 40,000ft (12,200m), aircraft 4005 launched an instrumented test missile in a beyond-visual-range, head-on engagement against a subscale target drone.
Source: Flight International
The troubled aerostructures manufacturer has become an important supplier of several key US defence programmes, including the air force’s new stealth bomber and the army’s next-generation tiltrotor.
With Boeing having delivered the first operational example of its latest F-15EX multi-role fighter, US Air Force pilots who previously flew the F-15C are beginning the process of transitioning to the new jet.
Airframer Boeing completed upgrades on two existing US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters, bringing the carrier-capable jets up to the latest Block III standard.
