Raytheon completes first flight test of new AMRAAM-ER variant

Raytheon and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, with support from the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and the Norwegian Armed Forces, successfully completed a flight test of an upgraded variant of the AMRAAM-Extended Range missile from a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS). The successful flight test demonstrates the increased capabilities of the upgraded AMRAAM-ER.

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This latest variant of the AMRAAM-ER is a new configuration that incorporates the AIM-120 C-8 guidance section, along with a more robust 10-inch (254mm) rocket motor from Nammo and a 10-inch control actuator system from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, a brand of Norwegian Propulsion Stack, for which the Norwegian Ministry of Defense has been a collaborative partner.

«Integrating this new technology into the AMRAAM-ER ensures the advanced capabilities of the surface-launched munition for many years to come,» said Paul Ferraro, president of Air & Space Defense Systems at Raytheon. «Agile software upgrades will continue to advance AMRAAM to stay ahead of evolving threats.»

The testing included a test firing, during which the missile flew a preprogramed flight path to verify safe egress from the NASAMS launcher and missile performance.

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The AMRAAM-ER is designed to be integrated with the NASAMS launcher for increased air defense protection, intercepting targets with increased range and altitude of a non-extended range AMRAAM.

See also: Norway reinforces Ukrainian air defense with more NASAMS batteries

NASAMS is a highly adaptable medium-range air defense solution, jointly developed and produced by Raytheon and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. Combat-tested in Ukraine, this air defense system showed its effectiveness in intercepting various types of aerial targets, such as Russian drones, aircraft or cruise missiles.