Does anyone have any current info about the AIM-9 replacement? There has not been much news for the last few years but it is still going according to
my sorces.
Well, the AIM-132 Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) was going to replace the AIM-9 but it didn't meet all the requirements.
" The resulting assessment was that the ASRAAM (as is) cannot meet the AIM-9X operational requirements in high off-boresight angle performance,
infrared counter-countermeasures robustness, lethality, and interoperability." ~ www.fas.org...
After the US pulled out of the program they started the development of the AIM-9X, which is based on some of the ASRAAM technology:
That program is in a very early state. It's also very ambitious meaning that there is a fair chance that it may be canceled and replaced programs
that are more conventional.
Well the US military could not be hat it is today if we didn't invest in ambitious projects plus it the Aim-9 is getting old there has to be a
replacement for it in the near future even if this isn't it.
Making one missiles for every case is very challenging, first of all it can they make missile which is good enough in everything.
Second, what's price of it... it isn't rational to use high priced missile when cheaper shorter range missile would do the job.
Current Sidewinder variant are going to be replaced with AIM-9X.
I recommend watching this video: www.raytheon.com...