Originally posted by CenturionMBT:
Aim 7 is 100 km??? u sure or not? if that is true....sell away our Aim 120...it is a waste of money...we can bvetter use the money for reproduction
First of all Sparrow is definitely NOT a 100Km weapon. At the most optimal launch parameter, ie. high attitude > 30,000ft launch by a high speed (probably a Mach 1 or higher) aircraft, the most it has ever achieved is 75 km - that is when the missile literally fall out of the sky from no more energy. At best, it can do 50 Km on normal flight parameter, even shorter if the target are constantly changing course.
Secondly, why use Amraam instead of Sparrow... many reasons, they are:
1. Amraam is a lot smaller and lighter.
2. Amraam has an active radar, at approx. 15 km to the target (maybe even slightly further, the onboard radar kicks in). The mid course guidance is via data link and unlike Semi-active radar missiles like the AIM-7s, the fighter does not need to "paint" the enemy and thus opening itself to counter fire.
3. The -C version of Amraam has a much higher range than the previous A and B version, and depending on which C version, eg. C5, which has the longest range due to miniturising of radar and electronics component, and enlarging of the fuel and rocket.
Other thing I want to point out is that Mica has been tested at > 60km by the Taiwanese (actually hit a drone at that range not drop out of the sky), thus the 28 miles figure is incorrect.