Raytheon Company completed a series of more than 1.700 rigorous wind tunnel tests on the newest, extended range variant of the combat-proven AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) missile. The testing is a major step in the missile's qualification for integration with the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS surface-based system.

The AIM-120 AMRAAM on Kongsberg's booth

AMRAAM-ER is a ground-launched weapon that will intercept targets at longer distance and higher altitudes. The missile gets its boost in range from a bigger rocket motor and smarter flight control algorithms.

"During these tests, we put AMRAAM-ER through the full range of potential flight conditions to validate the missile's future performance on the battlefield," said Kim Ernzen, vice president of Raytheon's Air Warfare Systems product line. "Raytheon is developing this missile to enhance ground-based air defence for our customers worldwide." Raytheon engineers will now analyze data collected from the wind tunnel tests runs to verify and update the missile's aerodynamic models to maximize AMRAAM-ER's performance.

Manufactured by Raytheon and Norway's Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, NASAMS is the most widely used short- and medium-range air defence system in NATO. NASAMS provides a high-firepower, networked and distributed state-of-the-art air defence system that can quickly identify, engage and destroy current and evolving threat aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicle and emerging cruise missile threats.