Weapons - U.S. Navy Owner's & Operator's Manual 2004

All Hands, Jan, 2004

SM-2 ER

Dimensions: 26.2 ft long; 13.5 in.. diameter; 5.2 ft. wingspan

Weight: 2,980 lbs.

Warhead: Proximity fuse/high-explosive

Propulsion: Two-stage/solid-fuel rocket; sustainer motor and booster motor

Range: 65 to 100 nm.

AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES

Advanced, Medium-Range, Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM)

An all weather, all-environment, radar guided missile developed as a follow-on to the Sparrow missile series. AMRAAM is smaller, faster, lighter and has improved capabilities against very low-altitude and high-altitude targets in an electronic countermeasure environment. Its active radar, in conjunction with an inertial reference unit and microcomputer system makes the missile less dependent on the aircraft fire control system enabling the pilot to aim and fire several missiles at multiple targets. The AMRAAM is a result of a joint U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force development effort and is in service with numerous NATO and Allied countries. The AMRAAM was deployed in September 1991 and is carried on the F/A-18 Hornet.

Dimensions: 12 ft. (long); 7 in. diameter; 21 in. wingspan

Weight: 335 lbs.

Propulsion: High performance, solid fuel rocket motor

Warhead: Blast fragmentation; high explosive

Speed: Supersonic.

Phoenix Missile

The Navy's only long-range, air-to-air missile. The missile has been designed for use in an all-weather, heavy-jamming environment. First deployed in 1974.

Dimensions: 13 ft. long; 15 in. diameter; 3 ft. wing span

Weight: 1,024 lbs.

Propulsion: Solid fuel rocket motor

Warhead: 135 lbs.; proximity fuse, high explosive

Range: in excess of 100 nm

Speed: In excess of 3,000 mph.

Sparrow

A highly-maneuverable, all-weather, beyond-visual-range, semi active radar homing air-to-air missile used by the United States, NATO and other allied forces. A shipboard version, the Sea Sparrow, provides U.S. Navy amt NATO ships with an effective, anti-air weapon. First deployed in 1958, numerous models and upgrades have occurred to the Sparrow missile family. Current air-to-air versions are carried on the F-14 and F/A-18 aircraft.

Dimensions: 12 ft. long; 8 in. diameter; 3.4 ft. wingspan

Weight: 500 lbs.

Warhead: 88 lbs. annular blast fragmentation

Propulsion: Solid-fuel rocket motor

Speed: Supersonic.

Sidewinder

The Sidewinder is a short-range, infrared, within-visual-range, air-to-air missiles used by the United States, NATO and other allied nations. The missile has been through a number of modernizations and the current fleet weapon is the AIM-9M. The missile is an all-aspect heat-seeking missile with improved capabilities against countermeasures. A major modification to the AIM-9M Sidewinder is the AIM-9X.

The AIM-9X is a joint U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force program that upgrades the missile with a staring focal plan array in the seeker, and extremely agile airframe and state-of-the-art signal processors resulting in enhanced target acquisition, missile kinematics and improved infrared counter countermeasure capabilities. The missile's high off-boresight capability can be coupled to a helmet mounted cueing system that will revolutionize the way that air-to-air missiles are employed. The Sidewinder is currently deployed on the F-14, F/A-18, AV-8 and AH-1 aircraft.