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From: eachus@aries.mitre.org (Robert I. Eachus)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: IR-guided AMRAAM possible?
Message-ID: <1991Mar28.033011.3255@amd.com>
Date: 27 Mar 91 00:35:12 GMT
Sender: military@amd.com
Organization: The Mitre Corp., Bedford, MA.
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Approved: military@amd.com



From: eachus@aries.mitre.org (Robert I. Eachus)

     I've always thought that the "right" choice would be an IR missle
which could be launched under wire/fiber-optic/radio/semi-active radar
control, (choose one) and would switch to IR terminal guidance when it
got lock.  This gives you a BVR system which can be used like a
Sidewinder when appropriate, or a Sidewinder that can launch before
target lock.  In fact, evolving the Sidewinder might be the right way
to approach this.

      The nice aspect of an "uprated" Sidewinder like this would be
the commonality and flexibility.  Instead of deciding whether to carry
2 Sidewinders and 2 Sparrows or 4 Sidewinders, or whatever, you would
just mount 4 AAMs, and let the pilot decide at what range to launch.

--
Robert I. Eachus