Raytheon Completes Wind Tunnel Tests of Extended-range AMRAAM Missiles

Raytheon has completed more than 1,700 wind tunnel tests on the newest, extended-range variant of the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM).

The AMRAAM-ER missile is a ground-launched weapon that will intercept targets at longer distances and higher altitudes. The missile's bigger rocket motor and smarter flight control algorithms give it a boost in range, the company said in a statement Monday.

"During these tests, we put AMRAAM-ER through a full range of potential flight conditions to validate the missile's future performance on the battlefield," said Kim Ernzen, Raytheon Air Warfare Systems vice president. "Raytheon is developing this missile to enhance ground-based air defense for our customers worldwide."

Raytheon engineers will now analyze data from the wind tunnel test runs to verify and update the AMRAAM-ER missile's aerodynamic models to maximize its performance.

Manufactured by Raytheon and Norway's Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, NASAMS is a short- and medium-range air defense system used by NATO. NASAMS provides a high-firepower, networked and distributed air defense system that can quickly identify, engage and destroy current and evolving threat aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and emerging cruise missile threats.