A successful flight test of the AIM-120C-8, the latest international variant of the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) developed under the Form, Fit, Function (F3R) refresh, has been completed by the U.S. Air Force and Raytheon. The test involved firing the AIM-120C-8 from an F-15C Eagle, which successfully downed an aerial target. The flight test met all primary objectives.
“AMRAAM is a combat-proven missile trusted by more than 40 international partners for both air-to-air and surface-to-air missions,” said Paul Ferraro, president of Air Power at Raytheon, an RTX business. “With the advancements from F3R, which updates both the missile’s hardware and allows for future Agile software upgrades, we are maximizing the capabilities of this munition for allies around the world.”
Raytheon engineers utilized model-based systems engineering approaches and digital technologies as part of the F3R program. Their aim was to enhance the guidance section of the missile by upgrading numerous circuit cards and advanced processors. They also re-hosted legacy software in the AIM-120D-3 and AIM-120C-8 AMRAAMs.
This AIM-120C-8 flight test follows the completion of flight testing of the AIM-120D-3. Flight testing on the AIM-120D-3 was completed in just 11 months after the initial flight test and concluded with showcasing the success of the missile in a highly contested environment.
Recently, the U.S. Air Force awarded Raytheon a $1.15 billion AMRAAM contract to produce AIM-120D-3 and C-8 missiles for 19 countries.
