Air Force Seeking Faster, Longer-Range Air-to-Air Missiles

[rangerrebew]

Air Force Seeking Faster, Longer-Range Air-to-Air Missiles
May 6, 2020 | By John A. Tirpak

The Air Force is looking for “novel” approaches to a new class of faster and longer-range air-to-air missiles, according to a request for information released May 5, but it’s not clear how these new weapons would complement several existing new dogfight missile programs.

The solicitation, released by Air Force Materiel Command’s Air Force Research Laboratory, at the Eglin weapons directorate, seeks industry ideas for technologies applicable to new dogfight missiles, which presumably would improve or replace the current generation of AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder, and complement the secretive AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile. The AFRL wants companies to indicate their interest to work on the project by June 18. It did not say when a program of record might begin. AFRL’s point of contact on the solicitation could not be reached, and AFMC had no immediate comment.

https://www.airforcemag.com/air-force-seeking-faster-longer-range-air-to-air-missiles/

[PeteS in CA]

The "D" model of an AIM-120 has a range out to 86 nm and Mach 4 speed, not much shorter than a 1970s Phoenix missile. While a new missile having a range out to or beyond 100 miles would be nice, the actual barrier, as it was with the Phoenix, could be the rules of engagement imposed in WashDC. I wonder if one prospective target might be hypersonic weapons.