ASRAAM will likely be retired from RAAF service once the legacy Bugs are also retired...
Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] News, Discussions and Updates
a trio of bugs flew over canberra today, unusual as they normally only do that on special events
AIM-9X has a two way data link which allows for a 360 degree engagement - the pilot can pick out a target and pickle the weapon off at will - the 'Winder will pop out the bay and head off in the right direction on a lock-on-after-launch profile. So, they could carry them internally and mix it.
Had 3 C-130's flying in close formation flying extremely low performing turns over my house today.
Was later on topped by said 3 xC-130's wing tip to wingtip followed closely behind by a nice little C-17.
I have photos.
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StevoJH
The Bunker Group
It seems a bit strange to me how the RAAF got ASRAAM for its F/A-18A+'s, then turned around and bought F-18F's with AIM-9X about 12 months later.
And now buying more AIM-9X, hopefully not many ASRAAM were ordered.
Nick underscore
Member
Was actually 4 bugs gf
Four F/A-18A/B Hornets will conduct a ‘missing man’ formation for the funeral of Air Chief Marshal Sir Neville McNamara, KBE, AO, AFC, AE (Ret’d) with military honours.
First post here but a long time lurker
I was under the impression that AIM-9X was rail launched so physically can't be launched from the internal bays of the F-35, unless it can be ejected like AMRAAM too?
the UK looked at doing some weird swinging truss arrangement which would drop down to make ASRAAM fireable, but didn't really go anywhere.
I'd forgotten about the rail thing - can't find anything definitive but you may be right.
King Wally
Active Member
For a minute there I thought I was the only one with the belief if had to be rail launched. Yes this was my concern too? I didn't think it could release via the internals? Again I very much could be wrong.
EDIT* Its old and as a result possibly incorrect.... but if you go to page 38 it overviews the internal vs external weapons mix
http://www.jsf.mil/downloads/documents/AFA_Conf_-_JSF_Program_Brief_-_26_Sept_06.pdf
Seams to be ASRAAM / AMRAAM = Internal, and AIM9x Sidewinder External Only. I can only assume as has been suggested there is a project somewhere to develop a trapeze style rail for the ASRAAM (and logically the Sidewinder) on the bay doors. I trawled the web tonight to learn more but didn't have much luck so I assume its a while away from reality.
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I was under the impression that LM had or were working on a trapeze for the internal weapons bay ?
John Newman
The Bunker Group
I thought the whole reason for the difference in weapons fit was simply that weapons such as ASRAAM and JASSM had been integrated already onto the Classic fleet and that, later on, when the Super Hornets where acquired we followed the weapons fit of the USN, eg, AIM-9X and JSOW, I also read that the targeting pods on the Classic and Super Hornets was also different.
I suppose this 'highlights' one of the issues of maintaining a 'mixed' fleet, some aircraft have certain weapons cleared and integrated and other aircraft have other weapons cleared and integrated.
And if you wish to have a 'common' pool of weapons it also means that you have go to the expense (plus time and trouble) to integrate that one pool across both platforms.
A potential problem that the RAAF will face until at least 2030 (with the mixed fleet of Supers and F-35A's) when, hopefully the last batch of F-35A's is procured and the Super Hornets are retired.
There was a parade for the Governor General at RAAF Richmond today.Had 3 C-130's flying in close formation flying extremely low performing turns over my house today.
Was later on topped by said 3 xC-130's wing tip to wingtip followed closely behind by a nice little C-17.
I have photos.
The C130s and C17 were doing a flyover
ASRAAM was chosen in 1998 for RAAF after a competition against AIM-9x Block I and Python IV.
At that point Super Hornet wasn't even on RAAF's radar... As others pointed out, Super Hornet was acquired as a risk free off the shelf purchase so the standard weapons fit was acquired.
As AIM-9x Block II can be used by JSF as well, the weapons pool will be common on RAAF's fighter fleet.
JDAM, Paveway II/III, SDB and JSOW will be used commonly across the fleet.
I'm interested to see what happens with JASSM. It is intended to be integrated on F-35 but not until later Blocks, so it will be interesting to see if Government is willing to accept a capability gap for our standoff missile capability, or if they fund JASSM for integration on Super Hornet...
AFAIK ASRAAM does not support data links, a critical drawback making it a poor fit in the network-centric air combat architecture that the RAAF is putting in place.
Re Sidewinder, I'm curious if the rail-launch requirement had something to do with the rollerons affixed to the tail fins which provide the missile stability in flight? They have to be in the airstream to keep them,spinning from,what I understand. Previous variants to the -9X had this feature but the latter features TVC .
Re Sidewinder, I'm curious if the rail-launch requirement had something to do with the rollerons affixed to the tail fins which provide the missile stability in flight? They have to be in the airstream to keep them,spinning from,what I understand. Previous variants to the -9X had this feature but the latter features TVC .
Considering the UK has paid to integrate ASRAAM in the F-35 why can't we keep them once our Lightnings begin to arrive?? Its already in service or is the version used on the F-35 different to the version we bought for the HUG Bugs.
There does seem to be a lack of holistic thinking across some of our ordinance projects, maybe we need to look deeper into some of the requirements and look for opportunities to use stuff across platforms in the future.
There does seem to be a lack of holistic thinking across some of our ordinance projects, maybe we need to look deeper into some of the requirements and look for opportunities to use stuff across platforms in the future.
Yup, the first F-35's the UK get will be AMRAAM/ASRAAM/Paveway IV capable.
After doing a little research there is a fair bit of chatter that 9x Blk III which is being touted with an IOC of around the 2022 mark with testing from 2018 could be developed with ejection launch capability due to the numbers of JSF's to be built, but cant find anything official
Cheers
Cheers
I only saw 3 out of the car window when driving. almost line astern
I find it's quite telling that rather than trying to update AMRAAM they're trying to get AIM-9x to be as long range as she possibly can be as well as putting IRST sensors on everything they can.