Difference between revisions of "AIM-120A"
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== Description == | == Description == | ||
<!-- ''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.'' --> | <!-- ''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.'' --> | ||
| − | The AIM-120A is an American [[Air-to-air missiles#Active Radar Homing .28ARH.29 missiles .28FOX-3.29|active radar-homing air-to-air missile]]. It was introduced in [[Update "Seek | + | The AIM-120A is an American [[Air-to-air missiles#Active Radar Homing .28ARH.29 missiles .28FOX-3.29|active radar-homing air-to-air missile]]. It was introduced in [[Update "Seek & Destroy"]]. |
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon === | === Vehicles equipped with this weapon === | ||
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* {{Specs-Link|f_16am_block_15_mlu_belgium}} | * {{Specs-Link|f_16am_block_15_mlu_belgium}} | ||
* {{Specs-Link|f_16c_block_50}} | * {{Specs-Link|f_16c_block_50}} | ||
| + | * {{Specs-Link|f_16c_block_40_barak_2}} | ||
* {{Specs-Link|saab_jas39c_hungary}} | * {{Specs-Link|saab_jas39c_hungary}} | ||
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=== Effective damage === | === Effective damage === | ||
| − | ''Describe the type of damage produced by this type of missile (high explosive, splash damage, etc)'' | + | <!-- ''Describe the type of damage produced by this type of missile (high explosive, splash damage, etc)'' --> |
| + | The warhead on the AIM-120A is similar to that of the [[AIM-7 Sparrow (Family)|AIM-7 Sparrow]] missiles, generally sufficient for destroying fighter aircraft with one hit. | ||
=== Comparison with analogues === | === Comparison with analogues === | ||
| − | ''Give a comparative description of missiles that have firepower equal to this weapon.'' | + | <!-- ''Give a comparative description of missiles that have firepower equal to this weapon.'' --> |
| + | The AIM-120A has higher effective range when compared to other medium-range active radar missiles, due to its powerful boost-sustain motor, low drag, and low mass, but it cannot match the close-range manoeuvrability of missiles such as the [[MICA-EM]], [[Derby]], or [[R-77]], lacking thrust vectoring or high angle control surfaces. | ||
== Usage in battles == | == Usage in battles == | ||
| − | ''Describe situations when you would utilise this missile in-game (vehicle, pillbox, base, etc)'' | + | <!-- ''Describe situations when you would utilise this missile in-game (vehicle, pillbox, base, etc)'' --> |
| + | The AIM-120A AMRAAM is a versatile missile, capable of filling both the role of a medium range BVR weapon and a dogfight missile. It can effectively out-range the AIM-7F/M missiles while also accelerating faster and having active radar guidance, similar to the AIM-54 Phoenix, allowing the launching aircraft to employ defensive manoeuvres once the missile has activated its own seeker at a distance of about 16 kilometres from the target. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Practical employment of the AIM-120 can be anywhere from 1-30 kilometres depending on the relative target aspect and altitude. The high 35G pull allows for effective employment at close ranges when paired with a HMD capable radar. This will be the main weapon for high tier American fighter jets. | ||
=== Pros and cons === | === Pros and cons === | ||
| − | ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.'' | + | <!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.'' --> |
'''Pros:''' | '''Pros:''' | ||
| − | * | + | * Good practical range when compared to other medium-range AAMs. |
| + | * High G pull allows for use in close combat over AIM-9M. | ||
| + | * Active radar homing increases launch platform survivability. | ||
| + | * Pulse-Doppler seeker allows the missile to track targets at low altitudes. | ||
'''Cons:''' | '''Cons:''' | ||
| − | * | + | * Less manoeuvrable than other medium-range AAMs. |
| + | * Low mass lead to suboptimal energy retention and wobbling in terminal flight phases. | ||
| + | * Still kinematically outmatched by missiles such as the R-27ER. | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
Latest revision as of 00:13, 29 October 2024
Contents
Description
The AIM-120A is an American active radar-homing air-to-air missile. It was introduced in Update "Seek & Destroy".
Vehicles equipped with this weapon
- AV-8B Plus
- ▄AV-8B Plus
- Baz Meshupar
- ◄F-4F KWS LV
- F-15C MSIP II
- F-15J(M)
- ▄F-16AM
- F-16C
- F-16C Barak II
- ◔JAS39EBS HU C
General info
Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the missile.
| Missile characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Mass | 147.87 kg |
| Guidance | ARH+IOG+DL |
| Band | I |
| Lock range | 16 km |
| Launch range | 80 km |
| Maximum speed | 4.0 M |
| Maximum overload | 35 G |
| Missile guidance time | 80 secs |
| Explosive mass | 9.81 kg TNTeq |
Effective damage
The warhead on the AIM-120A is similar to that of the AIM-7 Sparrow missiles, generally sufficient for destroying fighter aircraft with one hit.
Comparison with analogues
The AIM-120A has higher effective range when compared to other medium-range active radar missiles, due to its powerful boost-sustain motor, low drag, and low mass, but it cannot match the close-range manoeuvrability of missiles such as the MICA-EM, Derby, or R-77, lacking thrust vectoring or high angle control surfaces.
Usage in battles
The AIM-120A AMRAAM is a versatile missile, capable of filling both the role of a medium range BVR weapon and a dogfight missile. It can effectively out-range the AIM-7F/M missiles while also accelerating faster and having active radar guidance, similar to the AIM-54 Phoenix, allowing the launching aircraft to employ defensive manoeuvres once the missile has activated its own seeker at a distance of about 16 kilometres from the target.
Practical employment of the AIM-120 can be anywhere from 1-30 kilometres depending on the relative target aspect and altitude. The high 35G pull allows for effective employment at close ranges when paired with a HMD capable radar. This will be the main weapon for high tier American fighter jets.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Good practical range when compared to other medium-range AAMs.
- High G pull allows for use in close combat over AIM-9M.
- Active radar homing increases launch platform survivability.
- Pulse-Doppler seeker allows the missile to track targets at low altitudes.
Cons:
- Less manoeuvrable than other medium-range AAMs.
- Low mass lead to suboptimal energy retention and wobbling in terminal flight phases.
- Still kinematically outmatched by missiles such as the R-27ER.
History
Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />.
Media
Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.
See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
- reference to the article about the variant of the weapon;
- references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.
External links
Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
- topic on the official game forum;
- other literature.
