유도탄 AIM-174B와 AIM-120의 크기 차이

[위종민]

AIM-174B와 AIM-120을 동시에 탑재한 사진인데 크기 차이가 무지막지하네요. 림팩 2024 참가차 진주만에 정박중인 CVN-70 칼 빈슨 함상에서 찍힌 사진으로 VFA-113의 F/A-18E 오른쪽 주익에 두 미사일이 장착돼 있었습니다. 

AIM-120 암람은 무게 356파운드, 길이 12피트 * 직경 7인치 * 윙스팬 1피트 7인치네요. 부스터를 제외한 AIM-174B의 무게는 1,890파운드+-14파운드라고 합니다. 길이는 이 기사에선 21피트로 추정하는데, 부스터를 제외한 길이도 이 정도인지 모르겠네요. 위키 등지에선 SM-6의 길이가  공히 21피트라고 나오는데, 이건 부스터 포함 전장일 듯 싶은데요. 

https://theaviationist.com/2024/07/08/aim-174b-aim-120-size-comparison/

These Photos Provide a Size Comparison Between the New AIM-174B and AIM-120 Missiles

July 8, 2024 Military Aviation, Weapons

DAVID CENCIOTTI

A person standing next to a dummy AIM-174B (designated DATM-174) aboard USS Carl Vinson (Image credit: u/Offsetski)The air-launched SM-6, designated AIM-174B, is significantly larger than the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile.

As reported in detail recently, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets deployed with CVW-2 aboard USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier were photographed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, taking part in Rim of The Pacific 2024 (RIMPAC 2024), carrying the new AIM-174B, the air-launched variant of the Standard Missile 6 (SM-6).

The SM-6 is the surface-to-air missile designed to be used on Navy ships in conjunction with the Aegis Combat System and also known as the RIM-174 Standard Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM); the AIM-174B is the SM-6 variant developed for the air-to-air role.

The photos in this post were taken by Reddit user Offsetski on Jul. 6, 2024, aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) aircraft carrier while moored in Pearl Harbor for RIMPAC 2024. They show an F/A-18E from VFA-113 with an AIM-174B and an AIM-120D under the right wing.

The DATM-174 label designates a dummy missile used for ground training (Image credit: u/Offsetski)

The larger missile, labeled “DATM-174B,” is a “dummy” AIM-174B missile, without motor or warhead, which can be used for ground handling and loading training. Regarding its size, the standard SM-6 missile is about 21 feet (6.4 meters) long. Judging by the person standing near the missile for scale, the AIM-174B in the photo seems to be of similar length.

The photos also offer a visual size comparison between the AIM-174B and the AIM-120D.

Another photo showing the size of a dummy AIM-174B (Image credit: u/Offsetski)

According to the stencils visible on the photos of the missile carried by the CVW-2 Super Hornets taking part in RIMPAC, the AIM-174B (designated NAIM-174B, with the N prefix indicating modifications for special tests where reconversion to the original configuration is neither planned nor feasible at reasonable costs) weighs 1,890 lb ± 14 lb (857 kg ± 6 kg).

The weight of the NAIM-174B carried by an F/A-18E of VFA-192 (Image credit: @aeros808)

Considering an AIM-120D weights 356 lb (161 kg), the AIM-174B is more than 5 times heavier than the AMRAAM.

Operationally deployed

On April 17, 2024, a US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet, likely from Air Test and Eval‎uation Squadron (VX) 9, was spotted carrying the same missile approximately 60 miles north of Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake during tests that preceded the delivery of the AIM-174B to the squadron expected to conduct Operational Test and Eval‎uation (OT&E). This phase involves testing production or production-representative weapons to determine their operational effectiveness and suitability for supporting a Full-Rate Production (FRP) decision.

Vampire Rhino with what looks like an AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER painted in the orange test paint. Maybe someone else can give a better ID of what it is? pic.twitter.com/kIMiWFXcBo

— StinkJet (@StinkJet) June 3, 2024

Although the news broke in 2021 only, the first sighting of a Super Hornet carrying an SM-6 variant occurred in 2018 when an F/A-18F from VX-31 was photographed with the same missile under its wing, indicating that the U.S. Navy has been developing an air-launched version of the SM-6/RIM-174 for at least six years.

Last week, the U.S. Navy acknowledged that the AIM-174 is operationally deployed, likely in Initial Operating Capability (IOC) with the CVW-2 Advanced Air Wing’s Super Hornet squadrons aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), as reported by Naval News.

Dragon 307 taking off with two SM-6/AIM-174Bs. (Image credit: @ryan_photographs_stuff)AIM-174B

As previously explained, the AIM-174 is an air-launched version of the RIM-174 Standard Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM), a crucial element of the US Navy’s air defense strategy. Integrated into the Aegis Combat System, the RIM-174 is primarily designed for long-range anti-air warfare but can also be employed for terminal phase ballistic missile defense and as an anti-ship missile. This year marked the first official combat use of the SM-6, with the Department of Defense confirm‎ing that the USS Carney intercepted and destroyed an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden on January 30, 2024.

The SM-6 uses the airframe of the SM-2ER Block IV (RIM-156A) missile, upgraded with an active radar homing seeker derived from the AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile. This missile can reach speeds of up to Mach 3.5 and has a maximum range of 200 nautical miles. To that respect, it’s not clear what the maximum range of the air-launched version could be: despite the lack of a booster, launching it at high speed and altitude would result in significantly greater range compared to the surface-launched variant.

F/A-18E of VFA-192 carrying two air-launched SM-6 missiles (Image credit: @aeros808)

With the induction of the AIM-174B into service, the U.S. Navy joins a number of air arms capable of deploying an extra-long-range beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), like the MBDA Meteor, the Russian R-37M and Chinese PL-15 and PL-21. In fact, the AIM-174B enables the U.S. Navy Super Hornets to engage targets at much greater distances than is currently possible with the AIM-120 AMRAAM. Integrated with the E-2D, F-35, and AEGIS within the Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) system, the AIM-174B would extend the Navy’s capability to intercept aerial targets at ranges comparable to (if not greater than) those achieved against naval targets using the baseline SM-6.

VFA-2 F/A-18F with the AIM-174B (Image credit: @the_808_airspace)

In essence, this new missile fills the gap left by the retirement of the AIM-54 Phoenix. The AIM-54 was a long-range air-to-air missile used by the U.S. Navy’s F-14 Tomcat and retired in 2004 alongside the F-14. Known for its impressive range of over 100 nautical miles and multiple-target engagement capability, the AIM-54 left a significant void in long-range engagement capabilities.

While there wasn’t a direct replacement for the AIM-54 Phoenix in terms of range, the U.S. military has been developing advanced air-to-air missiles to enhance its fighter aircraft capabilities. The AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) is one such development intended to replace the AIM-120 AMRAAM. Although not a direct replacement for the AIM-54 Phoenix, the AIM-260 aims to offer improved range and performance compared to the AIM-120.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIM-120_AMRAAM

AIM-120 AMRAAM - Wikipedia

[김용우]

예전에 같은 스탠더드 껍데기 썼던 AGM-78의 경우 15ft였었고 여기 스패로우 껍데기 썼던 슈라이크하고 나란히 찍은 사진 보면 길이 자체는 위의 사진과 비슷해보이네요.

[위종민]

21피트보다는 15피트에 좀 더 가까울 것 같아 보이네요.

[백선호]

SM-6에 Dual Thrust Rocket Motor가 있다고 하니 로켓 연료를 처음에 다 태우며 높이 올라갔다가 그냥 내리 꽂히는 식은 아니고 로켓 연료 반쯤 태우고 막판에 또 로켓 점화하는 식으로 비행할 것 같습니다.

[위종민]

배에서 쏘는 것에 비해 사거리와 교전범위가 얼마나 차이날 지도 궁금해집니다 ㅎㅎ

[강준구]

해군에서 가장 큰 전투기인 수퍼호넷에 3발 정도(기체 센터라인 1발 + 주익 2발)일 것 같습니다.

이미지 출처:

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/15/2a/6d/152a6dbb81063853944f1d2a6ff9aa26--okra-continue.jpg

[강준구]

미공군에서 가장 큰 전투기인 F-15EX에도 단다면, 유사하게 3발이 맥시멈이 아닐까 합니다. 기체 센터 1발, 주익 2발.

고고도에서 날려야 멀리 빠르게 갈텐데, 엔진 추력이 달리는 수퍼호넷은 버거울 것 같고, 이글은 그마나 좀 낫지 않을까 싶습니다.

이미지 출처: https://www.fast-air.co.uk/f-15e-strike-eagle-training-load-out/