Raytheon Completes Lab Testing On New Variant Of AMRAAM Missile

Raytheon announced on Wednesday that AMRAAM-ER, its new extended range variant of advanced medium-range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) has successfully completed lab testing.

The test validated that the missile can be integrated and employed from the NASAMS launcher. Further, the test allows Raytheon to move ahead with launcher and system integration scheduled to begin mid-2015 followed by a live firing demonstration.

Raytheon is on schedule to flight test AMRAAM-ER before the end of the year. The new variant is designed specifically for ground-based air defense and will be combined with AN/MPQ-64 F1Sentinel radar and the NASAMS launcher to provide increased air defense protection in the medium range air defense market.

Mike Jarrett, Raytheon vice president of Air Warfare Systems said, "AMRAAM-ER significantly expands the capability of our proven ground-based air defense system. The new surface-launched missile will be even faster and more maneuverable than the current AMRAAM,"

"By leveraging components from existing weapons programs, Raytheon is on a fast track to deliver AMRAAM-ER affordably and with very low risk." Jarrett added.

Raytheon is integrating the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile rocket motor into AMRAAM-ER, enabling the new missile to intercept targets at longer ranges and higher altitudes.

NASAMS is the latest Medium Range Air Defense system. In partnership with KONGSBERG, Raytheon has delivered more than 70 fire units to seven countries. It is commonly used as Short and Medium Range Air Defense System in NATO.

Apart from Norway, NASAMS is operationally deployed in the US National Capital Region, Spain, Finland, the Netherlands, and an undisclosed country. It is also in production for Oman under a contract received last year.