AIM-120 AMRAAM
The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) is a United States air-to-air missile. It was developed as a next-generation missile to equip many NATO aircraft, including the F-15 Eagle, F-16, F/A-18 Hornet, and F-22 Raptor. It replaced the AIM-7 Sparrow and its series.
The AMRAAM has advanced targeting capability; it can hit an enemy from 30 miles away at a speed of Mach 4. Avoiding one is extremely difficult, because the missile has excellent maneuverability and sophisticated avionics. It is used by over 30 countries, including Britain, Egypt, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Pakistan, Belgium, Jordan, Italy, Poland, Hungary and Germany, as well as the United States Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force.
The AIM-120 was first used in combat in December 1992, when a F-16 used one to shoot down a MiG-25 over Iraq. Since then, AMRAAMs have downed eight other enemy aircraft, an Iraqi MiG-23 and seven Yugoslav fighters.
