AMRAAM is an active, radar-guided, medium-range, supersonic air- to-air missile. It is a joint USAF-Navy follow-on to the AIM-7 Sparrow with launch-and-leave capability.
The AIM-120B is an upgraded, reprogrammable variant of the original missile. The AIM-120C incorporates smaller control surfaces for internal carriage on F-22 and F-35 and a high-angle off-boresight (HOBS) launch capability. AIM-120D offers improved range, GPS-assisted guidance, updated data links, and jam resistance in addition to greater lethality.
System Improvement Program (SIP II) upgrades debuted in 2020, and the latest AIM120D3 with SIP IIIF software was fielded in March 2024. The new configuration incorporates Form, Fit, and Function (F3R ) upgrades and nearly doubles the missile’s range while increasing its kinetic energy against advanced long-distance threats. The next SIP-4 software upgrade will maximize the F3R hardware’s nearly four-times-faster computing power to maximize weapon performance, while SIP-5 will expand its engagement envelope.
USAF plans to potentially utilize AIM-120D3 as an affordable “capacity” weapon in tandem with the next-generation AIM-260 Joint Air Tactical Missile (JATM) which is currently in testing. FY25 continues a multi-year/large lot procurement started last year that boosts USAF production from a previous base of 320 to 462 AIM-120Ds.
AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) Technical Data
Contractors: Raytheon; Northrop Grumman; Nammo Group (propulsion).
First Flight: December 1984.
Delivered: 1988-present.
IOC: September 1991; July 2015 (120D).
Active Variants: •AIM-120B. Upgraded, reprogrammable variant of AIM-120A. •AIM-120C. Production variant optimized for the F-22/F-35. •AIM-120D. Latest variant with GPS guidance, improved range, lethality, and jam-resistance.
Dimensions: Span 1.7 ft, length 12 ft, diameter 7 in.
Propulsion: Boost-sustain solid-propellant rocket motor.
Performance: Supersonic, range 20+ miles.
Guidance: Active radar terminal/inertial midcourse.
Warhead: HE blast-fragmentation.
Integration: F-15C/D/E, F-16C/D, F-22A, F-35A.