Florida, September 20 - In a groundbreaking demonstration of aerial supremacy, the United States Air Force's F-22 Raptor has etched a new chapter in beyond-visual-range (BVR) combat history by achieving the longest known AIM-120 AMRAAM kill shot from a fifth-generation stealth fighter. Conducted in late 2024 over the expansive Gulf Range Complex near Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, this record-setting test involved an F-22 launching the upgraded AIM-120D-3 variant under optimal high-altitude, high-speed conditions as part of Raytheon's Form, Fit, Function Refresh (F3R) program. While exact distances remain classified to safeguard tactical advantages, the engagement showcased the missile's enhanced "extended time-of-flight" capabilities, enabling it to maintain precision guidance and data-link connectivity over unprecedented distances against a simulated aerial target. This feat validates decades of iterative improvements to the AMRAAM, first introduced in the early 1990s as the gold standard for radar-guided, fire-and-forget air-to-air weaponry, and underscores the F-22's enduring role as a premier platform for air dominance. With over 6,000 successful live-fire tests and 13 confirmed combat kills spanning conflicts from the Balkans to Syria, the AIM-120 AMRAAM continues to evolve, integrating advanced seekers, processors, and aerodynamic tweaks that extend its effective envelope while preserving compatibility across 14 aircraft types in 43 allied nations. The F-22 Raptor's stealthy supercruise and AN/APG-77 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar were pivotal, allowing the missile to exploit networked targeting for a seamless kill chain that blends human piloting with sensor fusion.
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At the heart of this milestone lies the AIM-120D-3's refined design, which builds on the missile's legacy as a compact, all-weather interceptor capable of engaging fighters, bombers, cruise missiles, and drones at speeds exceeding Mach 4. Measuring just 3.7 meters in length and weighing around 152 kilograms, the AMRAAM's smaller profile compared to bulkier adversaries enables internal carriage in the F-22's weapons bays, preserving the jet's low-observable signature during stealthy approaches. The F3R upgrades specifically targeted propulsion efficiency and guidance algorithms, resulting in a missile that can loiter longer in flight, resist electronic countermeasures, and achieve a probability of kill (Pk) hovering around 0.59 in operational scenarios. This test, revealed by RTX's Raytheon division on September 16, 2025, followed a series of validations starting with F-15E Strike Eagle launches and culminating in the F-22's supersonic release, which imparted additional kinetic energy to stretch the missile's kinematic reach. For the F-22, armed typically with six AMRAAMs alongside AIM-9X Sidewinders, this enhancement translates to "first-look, first-kill" opportunities in contested airspace, where the Raptor's integrated avionics process real-time threat data to cue the weapon autonomously. As peer competitors accelerate their own missile programs, the AMRAAM's proven reliability, bolstered by rigorous testing regimes like the Weapons System Evaluation Program (WSEP), ensures it remains a cornerstone of U.S. tactical doctrine, adaptable for future integrations with unmanned collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) and space-based sensors.
This historic F-22 AMRAAM achievement arrives as a calculated riposte to the escalating arms race in long-range air-to-air missiles, directly confronting the formidable PL-15 and R-37M systems fielded by China and Russia. The PL-15, a dual-pulse rocket motor-equipped missile integrated into the J-20 stealth fighter, boasts an estimated range of 200-300 kilometers, with its export PL-15E variant clocking in at about 145 kilometers; its active radar seeker and maneuverability make it a potent threat for Indo-Pacific scenarios, potentially allowing Chinese aircraft to strike U.S. assets from standoff distances. Similarly, Russia's R-37M, or AA-13 Axehead, pushes boundaries with claimed intercepts exceeding 300 kilometers, verified in Ukrainian theater engagements against high-value targets like AWACS planes, thanks to its jettisonable booster and hypersonic speeds over Mach 5, often launched from MiG-31 interceptors to create no-escape zones. These adversaries have long challenged the AIM-120's traditional 100-160 kilometer envelope (classified but inferred from prior D-variant tests), forcing NATO planners to rethink engagement envelopes and invest in countermeasures like electronic warfare suites. Yet the F-22's latest AMRAAM shot signals a narrowing gap, leveraging the Raptor's superior situational awareness to initiate BVR duels on favorable terms, where factors like launch altitude, target aspect, and electronic support can equalize raw range disparities. By demonstrating extended lethality without compromising affordability, AMRAAM unit costs remain under $1 million, the test reaffirms U.S. commitments to allies in Europe and Asia, where integrated air defense networks rely on interoperable munitions to deter aggression.
Looking ahead, the F-22's AMRAAM triumph heralds a pivotal shift in air superiority strategies, bridging legacy systems to next-generation paradigms amid rising great-power tensions. As the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) progresses toward full operational capability, expected to double or triple the AMRAAM's reach for exclusive F-22 and F-35 integration, the F3R enhancements ensure a smooth transition, sustaining production into the 2030s while countering PL-15 and R-37M proliferation. This evolution emphasizes "kill chain" warfare, where F-22s orchestrate multi-domain operations involving loyal wingman drones, satellite cueing, and AI-driven targeting to overwhelm numerically superior foes. For the U.S. Air Force, sustaining the Raptor's fleet through upgrades in engines, radars, and software, coupled with expanded munitions stockpiles, positions it as the linchpin of deterrence, capable of projecting power from the Arctic to the South China Sea. Ultimately, this long-range AMRAAM kill not only bolsters confidence in American aerospace innovation but also serves as a stark reminder to adversaries: in the relentless pursuit of air dominance, stealth, precision, and adaptability will define the victors of tomorrow's skies.