Defence Trials

AMRAAM Missile Trials

Two successful firings of the AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) were conducted at the WTF in April/May 2001 by 77 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) with support from the Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU). The AMRAAM is a software-controlled, radar-guided missile that gives pilots the ability to ‘launch and leave’ and to track multiple targets during a single engagement.

The firings from F/A-18 Hornets were part of the test and evaluation program leading to acceptance of the AMRAAM missile into RAAF service. Both firings were successful, with the missiles intercepting targets towed behind Kalkara drone aircraft. The 2001 trials followed initial AMRAAM firings conducted at Woomera in Aug/Sep 2000 as part of Exercise Desert Cobra.