RAAF test fires new AMRAAM missiles

The RAAF successfully fired two AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missiles (AMRAAM) from its F/A-18 Hornets at the Woomera Instrumented Range earlier this month.

The firings, of inert instrumented rounds, formed a key milestone in the test and evaluation program that will lead to acceptance of the AMRAAM into RAAF service. The firings were the first for a missile of this nature in our region. Both missiles successfully struck their targets, which were towed by MQM-105E Kalkara target drones.

The AMRAAM is being acquired to meet the RAAF's Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile requirement as part of the RAAF's Hornet Upgrade program. The missiles were launched from aircraft which had undergone Phase 1 of the upgrade, which involved upgrades to the Hornet's mission computer and installation of a new INS/GPS system to enable the aircraft to interact with the missile pre-launch.

"The F/A-18 and AMRAAM combination forms an essential building block for achievement of the Government's air combat capability goals, outlined in the Defence White Paper," Project Director Group Captain Graeme Cooper said.

The AMRAAM, manufactured by Raytheon in the US, is being acquired under a US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement. The first tranche of missile deliveries against the contract with Raytheon was completed earlier this year, several months ahead of schedule. Formal introduction of the missile into service is on schedule for the end of this year.

By Gregor Ferguson