Their Counterparts in the WorldUSAAir-to-AirRaytheonBVR

AIM-120 AMRAAM

The Standard Air-to-Air Missile of 40 Countries

Raytheon (RTX) produces the medium-range air-to-air missile guided by active radar. It became operational in 1991 and has since been the NATO standard BVR (beyond visual range) air-to-air weapon. The pilot launches the missile and can immediately disengage — the missile locks onto the target with its own radar. It is in inventory on F-15, F-16, F-18, Eurofighter, Gripen, F-35, and Turkish F-16s. Turkey’s national alternative is the GÖKDOĞAN.

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• What is the AIM-120 AMRAAM?

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What is the AIM-120 AMRAAM?

AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile), is a medium-range air-to-air missile guided by active radar produced by Raytheon (now RTX). The AMRAAM, which became operational in 1991, has been the NATO standard air-to-air weapon for over 30 years.

Previously, U.S. and NATO aircraft used the semi-active radar missile AIM-7 Sparrow. In the Sparrow, the pilot had to keep the radar on the target until the missile hit — during this time, the pilot could not maneuver and was exposed to enemy counterattacks. The AMRAAM eliminated this limitation:

1. The pilot launches the AMRAAM.
2. Initially receives target updates via a data link from the aircraft.
3. Up to a certain distance, the own radar activates.
4. The missile now locks onto the target by itself; the pilot can disengage immediately.

This “fire-and-forget” capability allows for engagements against multiple targets — an aircraft can launch multiple AMRAAMs at the same time and send each to a different target.

Variants:

• AIM-120A/B — Early variants, ≈75 km range.
• AIM-120C — Improved, ≈100 km range. AIM-120C-7 is used on Turkish F-16s.
• AIM-120D — Latest variant, ≈160 km range, GPS guidance support, enhanced immunity.
• AIM-120D-3 — Integrated into the F-35, the newest.

Turkey’s Perspective: Turkish F-16s carry the AIM-120 AMRAAM C-5 and C-7. In 2019, a Turkish F-16 shot down a Syrian Su-22 with an AMRAAM. Due to U.S. export license restrictions, Turkey developed the BVR air-to-air missile GÖKDOĞAN (TÜBİTAK SAGE). The Gökdoğan became operational and integration with the KAAN and F-16 continues.