RTX Raytheon to tackle mitigation of AMRAAM missile electronic parts obsolescence in $760 million contract

Questions and answers:

• What is the purpose of the $760 million contract to RTX Raytheon? To mitigate obsolescence in AMRAAM missiles to ensure their radar-guided systems and electronic components remain up to date.
• Why is obsolescence a concern for AMRAAM missile electronics? AMRAAM’s electronics, like its processor and SDRAM, rely on commercially developed semiconductor technologies with short life cycles, leading to critical parts being discontinued and needing replacement or redesign.
• What improvements are included in the AMRAAM F3R upgrade? It enhances signal processing, radar signal processing power, and electronic warfare capabilities, along with continuous software updates for better performance in complex environments.

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. – Engineers at RTX Corp. will weed-out obsolete and obsolescent electronic components and subsystems of the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to keep these radar-guided air-to-air weapons up to date.

Officials of the U.S. Air Force Weapons Superiority Contracting Branch at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., announced a $760 million contract this week to the RTX Raytheon segment in Tucson, Ariz., to mitigate obsolescence in AMRAAM missiles that already are in the inventory, and those under construction.

Electronics upgrades and obsolescence mitigation efforts are nothing new to AMRAAM. The missile first was fielded in 1991, and over the course of its 34 years in the inventory several projects have been launched to upgrade the missile by switching-out obsolete parts.

AMRAAM systems that are most prone to electronic parts obsolescence typically involve the weapon's guidance and computing. This includes 15 critical circuit cards in the missile's guidance section.

Obsolescence-prone components

One problematic component is the AMRAAM's application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) processor, which executes the missile software. Its scarcity and design issues have caused delays, and highlight how such custom microcircuits become obsolete.

The central processor’s synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) also faces obsolescence, prompting redesign and recertification efforts. Other electronic components prone to obsolescence include digital microcircuits, analog-to-digital converters, oscillators, and circuit cards in the missile’s navigation and radar systems.

Missile electronics have decades-long life cycles, but rely on commercially developed semiconductor technologies with typical life cycles of just five to ten years, which often leads to critical parts going out of production.

Mitigating the effects of obsolescence and diminishing manufacturing sources can involve the substantial redesign of subsystems by replacing electronic chips and other components that the original manufacturers no longer can produce.

Tell me more about the AMRAAM air-to-air missile ...

• AMRAAM is a radar-guided missile to engage and destroy enemy aircraft at medium ranges. It uses an active radar homing guidance system to lock onto targets independently after launch. The missile has an effective range of about 50 to 100 miles, and has a top speed faster than Mach 4. It has a high-explosive blast-fragmentation warhead, as well as proximity fuses and impact fuses for optimal detonation. AMRAAM It can launch from the F-15, F-16, F/A-18, F-22, and Eurofighter Typhoon. It targets enemy jet fighters, bombers, and even some missiles. The AMRAAM has gone through several versions, with each one improving its guidance systems, range, and resistance to electronic countermeasures.

The AIM-120 AMRAAM is an active radar-intercept missile with inherent electronic protection capabilities for air-to-air applications against massed penetration aircraft. AMRAAM has been in service since 1991, and was designed to replace the AIM-7 Sparrow radar-guided air-to-air missile.

The U.S. Air Force and Navy AMRAAM is one of the nation's most sophisticated radar-guided air-to-air missiles, and one of the world's most advanced all-weather, all-environment, medium-range air-to-air missiles for engaging enemy aircraft and missiles from beyond visual ranges.

In January 2017 Raytheon officials announced a project to develop a new signal processor for the AMRAAM under the F3R project to help ensure AMRAAM production through the end of the 2020s.

F3R upgrades

The AMRAAM F3R upgrade is a significant advancement to the missile’s signal processing and overall capabilities. The project involves upgraded signal processing and hardware; improved guidance section; enhanced electronic warfare (EW) performance; agile software updates; simulation tools for development; and improved platform integration.

The F3R program replaces legacy electronics in the missile's guidance section with at least 15 upgraded circuit cards developed using model-based systems engineering. These upgrades provide a substantial increase in computational power for the missile’s radar signal processor.

Enhanced signal processing uses advanced guidance algorithms for improved target tracking, discrimination, and target engagement in complex electronic warfare environments.

EW enhancements

EW enhancements enable the AMRAAM to counter current and emerging electronic warfare threats by processing signals more rapidly in dense and contested electromagnetic environments.

AMRAAM F3R variants like the AIM-120D-3 can receive signal-processing algorithms that can be improved continuously without another major hardware overhaul. F3R also uses the M-Sim simulation tool that enables rapid prototyping, testing, and integration of advanced signal processing software onto the new hardware to speed development and fielding.

On this contract RTX Raytheon will do the work in Tucson, Ariz., and should be finished by September 2030. For more information contact RTX Raytheon online at www.rtx.com/raytheon/news/2022/07/13/amraam-evolution, or the Air Force Weapons Superiority Contracting Branch at www.robins.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/2843093/robins-air-force-base.