RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile
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The RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) is a small, lightweight, infrared homing surface-to-air missile in use by the United States Navy, German Navy, Hellenic Navy, Egyptian Navy, and the Republic of Korea Navy. It is intended originally and primarily as a point-defense weapon against anti-ship cruise missiles. The missile is named because it rolls around its longitudinal axis during its flight to stabilize its flight path.
The onboard Mk-49 launcher installation weighs 5,777 kilograms - 5.8 tonnes - (12,740 lb or 6.4 short tons) and stores 21 missiles. The original weapon cannot employ its own sensors prior to firing so it must be integrated with a ship's combat system, which directs the launcher at targets. On American ships it is integrated with the AN/SWY-2 and Ship Self Defense System combat systems.
The RIM-116 was developed by General Dynamics under a July 1976 agreement with Denmark and West Germany. (The General Dynamics missile business was later acquired by Hughes Aircraft and is today part of Raytheon.) Denmark dropped out of the program, but the USN joined in as the major partner. The first 30 missiles were built in FY85 and they became operational on November 14, 1992, on board the USS Peleliu (LHA-5). The U.S. Navy plans to purchase a total of about 1,600 RAMs and 115 launchers to equip 74 ships. The RIM-116 is currently used on several American and 30 German warships. Moreover, all new German Navy warships will be equipped with the RAM, such as the new Braunschweig class corvettes, which will mount two RAM launchers per ship. The Greek Navy has equipped the new Super Vita–class fast attack craft with the RAM, and South Korea has signed procurement contracts for their Destroyers KDX-2, KDX-3, and their LPX program.
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[edit] Variants
[edit] Block 0
Also known as RIM-116A in US service, the original version called Block 0 whose design is based on that of the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile, from which it took its rocket motor, fuse, and warhead. Block 0 missiles initially home in on active radiation emitted from a target (such as the radar of an incoming anti-ship missile). Then, the terminal guidance is done by an infrared seeker derived from that of the FIM-92 Stinger missile. In test firings, the Block 0 missiles achieved hit rates of over 95%.
[edit] Block 1
The Block 1 (RIM-116B) is an enhanced version of the RAM missile that adds an overall infrared-only guidance system that enables it to intercept missiles that are not emitting any radar signals. The Block 0's passive radar homing capabilities have been retained.
[edit] HAS
In 1998 a memorandum of understanding was signed by the defense departments of Germany and the United States to improve the system, so that it could also engage so-called "HAS", Helicopter, Aircraft, and Surface targets. As developed, the HAS upgrade just required software modifications that can be applied to all Block 1 RAM missiles.
[edit] SeaRAM
The SeaRAM is a companion self-defense weapon system to the rapid-fire-gun-based Phalanx CIWS system which is also capable of engaging multiple attackers simultaneously. Both systems are manufactured by Raytheon Company.
The SeaRAM combines the Phalanx's proven radar and sensor suite with an 21-cell RAM launcher to produce an autonomous system - one which does not need any external information to engage threats. Thus like Phalanx, SeaRAM can be fitted to all class of ships.
- See also Close-in weapon system
[edit] General characteristics (Block 1)
- Primary Function: Surface-to-Air Missile
- Contractor: Raytheon, Diehl BGT Defence
- Length: 2780 mm
- Diameter: 127 mm
- Fin span: 445 mm
- Speed: Mach 2.0+
- Warhead: 11.3 kg blast fragmentation
- Launch Weight: 73.5 kg (162 lb)
- Range: 7.5 km
- Guidance System: three modes—passive radio frequency/infrared homing, infrared only, or infrared dual mode enabled (radio frequency and infrared homing)
- Unit Cost: $444,000
- Date Deployed: 1992
[edit] References
