Missing image Raf_asraamb.jpg
AIM-132 ASRAAM
Function	short-range air-to-air missile
Contractor	MBDA
Unit cost
Deployment	{{{Deployment }}}
General Characteristics
Engine	solid rocket motor
Launch mass	88 kg
Length	2.90 m
Diameter	166 mm
Wing span	450 mm
Speed	Mach 3.5
Range	300 m - 18 km
Flying altitude	N/A
Warhead	10 kg blast/fragmentation
Guidance	Imaging infra-red, 128x128 element focal plane array, with lock-on after launch (LOAL)
Fuzes	laser proximity and impact
Launch platform	Aircrafts: Royal Air Force: Tornado, Harrier, Typhoon Royal Australian Air Force: F/A-18

The AIM-132 Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile is a British air-to-air missile with infra-red guidance.

Contents

1 History 2 Notes 3 See also 4 External links

History

In the 1980s, NATO countries had an agreement that the USA would develop a medium-range air-to-air missile (the AIM-120 AMRAAM) to replace the AIM-7 Sparrow, and Britain and Germany would develop a short-range air-to-air missile (the ASRAAM) to replace the AIM-9 Sidewinder.

After numerous development delays with ASRAAM, the USA later changed its mind and developed an improved Sidewinder, the AIM-9X. Note that the AIM-9X uses the same seeker head as the ASRAAM..

Germany left the ASRAAM project in the early 1990s, and in the spring of 1995 initiated an improved version of the Sidewinder, the IRIS-T. This decision was motivated by new insights into the performance of the Russian AA-11 Archer missile carried by the MiG-29s which Germany inherited during reunification.

Notes

The guidance system can lock on to a target 90 degrees off boresight

See also

• MBDA MICA
• R550 Magic
• IRIS-T
• AIM-9_Sidewinder
• List of missiles

External links

• MBDA manufacturer ASRAAM page (http://www.mbda.net/site/FO/scripts/siteFO_contenu.php?lang=EN&noeu_id=121)
• Royal Air Force ASRAAM (http://www.raf.mod.uk/equipment/airtoair.html#ASRAAM)

List of Aircraft | Aircraft Manufacturers | Aircraft Engines | Aircraft Engine Manufacturers Airlines | Air Forces | Aircraft Weapons | Missiles | Timeline of aviation

de:AIM-132 ASRAAM