Title: IRIS-T vs AIM-9 X
KORNET-E - December 31, 2006 12:09 PM (GMT)
To my knowledge the Hellenic Airforce has ordered 350 IRIS-T with an option for another 350 missiles. While the Turkish Airforce has ordered 225 AIM-9 X, the newest Sidewinder version.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaRMNXNvVY4
IRIS-T
Basic data
Function Air to Air Missile
Manufacturer Diehl BGT Defence
Unit cost 400,000 €
Entered service December 2005
General characteristics
Engine
Launch mass 87.4 kg
Length 2936 mm
Diameter 127 mm
Wingspan 447 mm
Speed Mach 2+
Range ~12 km
Flying altitude Sea level to 20,000 m
Warhead HE/Fragmentation
Guidance Infrared
Fuzes Impact and active radar proximity fuze
Launch platform Users:
Germany: Typhoon
Greece: F-16
Italy: Typhoon
Norway: F-16
Sweden: Gripen
Austria: Typhoon
Spain: F-18, Typhoon
IRIS-T (Infra Red Imaging System Tail/Thrust Vector-Controlled) is a German-led program to develop a short-range air-to-air missile to replace the AIM-9 Sidewinder.
History
In the 1980s, West Germany was a partner with the United Kingdom in the ASRAAM program. But after German reunification, Germany found itself with large stockpiles of the AA-11 Archer and concluded that the AA-11's capabilities had been noticeably under-estimated. In particular, it was found to be both far more manoeuvrable, and far more capable in terms of seeker acquisition and tracking. These conclusions led Germany to question certain aspects of the design of ASRAAM, particularly the lack of thrust vectoring to aid manoeuvrability. Germany and Britain could not come to an agreement about the design of ASRAAM, so in 1990 Germany withdrew from the ASRAAM project; Britain continued alone to produce and procure ASRAAM.
In 1995, Germany announced the IRIS-T development program, in collaboration with Greece, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Canada. Canada later dropped out.
Workshare arrangements for IRIS-T development are:
Germany 46%
Italy 19%
Sweden 18%
Greece 13%
remainder split between Canada and Norway.
In 2003 Spain joined as a partner for procurement.
The Luftwaffe took first delivery of the missile on the 5th of December 2005.
Also a navalized version of the missile called IDAS for the new Type 212 submarine of the German Navy is currently being developed. IDAS is supposed to engange air threats, small or medium surface vessels or near land targets.
In addition to the MEADS program, the German airforce plans to integrate a land-launched version of the missile, called IRIS-T SL / IRIS-T SLS, into this program.
Notes
Any aircraft capable of carrying and firing Sidewinder will be capable of launching IRIS-T.
Combat performance
Extreme close-in fight capability (60 g, 60°/s) and 5 to 8 times longer head-on firing range than Sidewinder AIM-9L.
AIM-9 X
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMXLluLJLhU
The AIM-9X is the latest member of the AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range missile family currently in use by more than 40 nations around the world. It is a joint U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force program and was approved for full rate production in May 2004.
The AIM-9X program delivers evolutionary improvements to the AIM-9 series missile through revolutionary advancements. The result from leveraging an in-production seeker and a rich legacy of commitment to advanced technologies is a low-risk weapon that is affordable and lethal.
AIM-9X is a launch and leave, air combat missile that uses passive infrared (IR) energy for acquisition and tracking, which can be employed in near beyond visual range (NBVR) and within visual range (WVR) arenas. Complimented with the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), the warfighter has unparalleled offensive firepower compared to any other weapon system in the world.
It has extremely high off-boresight capability which gives a pilot first-shot, first-kill dominance. It provides greatly enhanced acquisition ranges in blue sky and clutter and IR countermeasures deliver the capacity to resist ever-changing threats. The AIM-9X has a highly agile airframe and its fifth-generation seeker and thrust vectoring control provide unprecedented performance.
AIM-9X, the next-generation Sidewinder missile, has truly changed the rules of air combat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaRMNXNvVY4
IRIS-T
Basic data
Function Air to Air Missile
Manufacturer Diehl BGT Defence
Unit cost 400,000 €
Entered service December 2005
General characteristics
Engine
Launch mass 87.4 kg
Length 2936 mm
Diameter 127 mm
Wingspan 447 mm
Speed Mach 2+
Range ~12 km
Flying altitude Sea level to 20,000 m
Warhead HE/Fragmentation
Guidance Infrared
Fuzes Impact and active radar proximity fuze
Launch platform Users:
Germany: Typhoon
Greece: F-16
Italy: Typhoon
Norway: F-16
Sweden: Gripen
Austria: Typhoon
Spain: F-18, Typhoon
IRIS-T (Infra Red Imaging System Tail/Thrust Vector-Controlled) is a German-led program to develop a short-range air-to-air missile to replace the AIM-9 Sidewinder.
History
In the 1980s, West Germany was a partner with the United Kingdom in the ASRAAM program. But after German reunification, Germany found itself with large stockpiles of the AA-11 Archer and concluded that the AA-11's capabilities had been noticeably under-estimated. In particular, it was found to be both far more manoeuvrable, and far more capable in terms of seeker acquisition and tracking. These conclusions led Germany to question certain aspects of the design of ASRAAM, particularly the lack of thrust vectoring to aid manoeuvrability. Germany and Britain could not come to an agreement about the design of ASRAAM, so in 1990 Germany withdrew from the ASRAAM project; Britain continued alone to produce and procure ASRAAM.
In 1995, Germany announced the IRIS-T development program, in collaboration with Greece, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Canada. Canada later dropped out.
Workshare arrangements for IRIS-T development are:
Germany 46%
Italy 19%
Sweden 18%
Greece 13%
remainder split between Canada and Norway.
In 2003 Spain joined as a partner for procurement.
The Luftwaffe took first delivery of the missile on the 5th of December 2005.
Also a navalized version of the missile called IDAS for the new Type 212 submarine of the German Navy is currently being developed. IDAS is supposed to engange air threats, small or medium surface vessels or near land targets.
In addition to the MEADS program, the German airforce plans to integrate a land-launched version of the missile, called IRIS-T SL / IRIS-T SLS, into this program.
Notes
Any aircraft capable of carrying and firing Sidewinder will be capable of launching IRIS-T.
Combat performance
Extreme close-in fight capability (60 g, 60°/s) and 5 to 8 times longer head-on firing range than Sidewinder AIM-9L.
AIM-9 X
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMXLluLJLhU
The AIM-9X is the latest member of the AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range missile family currently in use by more than 40 nations around the world. It is a joint U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force program and was approved for full rate production in May 2004.
The AIM-9X program delivers evolutionary improvements to the AIM-9 series missile through revolutionary advancements. The result from leveraging an in-production seeker and a rich legacy of commitment to advanced technologies is a low-risk weapon that is affordable and lethal.
AIM-9X is a launch and leave, air combat missile that uses passive infrared (IR) energy for acquisition and tracking, which can be employed in near beyond visual range (NBVR) and within visual range (WVR) arenas. Complimented with the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), the warfighter has unparalleled offensive firepower compared to any other weapon system in the world.
It has extremely high off-boresight capability which gives a pilot first-shot, first-kill dominance. It provides greatly enhanced acquisition ranges in blue sky and clutter and IR countermeasures deliver the capacity to resist ever-changing threats. The AIM-9X has a highly agile airframe and its fifth-generation seeker and thrust vectoring control provide unprecedented performance.
AIM-9X, the next-generation Sidewinder missile, has truly changed the rules of air combat.
Thermopyles - January 4, 2007 02:24 AM (GMT)
Good info, good pics, Thanks Kornet! :applause: