Skyflash

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The British Aerospace Skyflash was a UK medium-range semi-active radar guided air-to-air missile derived from the US AIM-7 Sparrow missile and carried by Royal Air Force F4 Phantom and Tornado F3 interceptor aircraft. The missile is being replaced by the more capable AMRAAM. The AMRAAM itself is being replaced by the far more capable MBDA Meteor.

[edit] History

Skyflash started development in the early 1970s. Major changes from the Sparrow were the addition of Marconi seeker and adapted control surfaces along with general improvements in the electronics. The missile entered service on the F-4 Phantom II in 1978. The resulting missile could function in the face of more hostile Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) and to engage targets in a wider variety of conditions. It can be launched from as low as 100 m to attack a high altitude target or conversely launch at high level to attack a target flying at 75 m.

These aircraft were replaced with the Tornado F3 from 1985 which carry the Skyflash in semi-recessed wells on the aircraft's underbelly to reduce drag. When the missile is launched, hydraulic arms extend the missile out of their carriage points at which point the motor is fired. In RAF service the missiles are carried with four short range missiles, either AIM-9 Sidewinders or ASRAAMs.

In 1996 the RAF announced the launch of the Capability Sustainment Programme which, amongst other upgrades, called for the replacement of the Skyflash with AIM-120 AMRAAM. AMRAAM incorporates an active radar in conjunction with an inertial reference unit and micro-computer system, which makes the missile less dependent upon the fire-control system of the aircraft.

Once the missile closes in on the target, its active radar guides it to intercept. This feature, called "fire and forget," frees the pilot from the need to continuously illuminate the missile's target with a radar lock, enabling the pilot to aim and fire several missiles simultaneously at multiple targets and perform evasive maneuvers while the missiles guide themselves to the targets.

[edit] Characteristics

Primary function: Long-range air to air missile
Main Contractor: BAe Dynamics, with Raytheon as subcontractor
Unit cost:
Power Plant: Rocketdyne solid propellant rocket motor
Length: 3.68 m (12 ft 1 in)
Weight: 193 kg (425 lb)
Diameter: 0.203 m (8 in)
Wing span: 1.02 m (40 in)
Range: 45 km (28 mi)
Speed: Mach 4
Guidance system: Marconi monopulse semi-active and active radar homing
Warheads: High explosive fragmentation with contact.
Warhead weight: 39.5 kg (87 lb)
Users: UK (Royal Air Force), Saudi Arabia, Italy (on leased Tornado F3s), Sweden (Royal Swedish Air force).
Date deployed: 1978
Date retired: Being replaced with AMRAAM on Tornado fleet