It’s taken over 20 years for the advanced, short range air-to-air missile (ASRAAM) upgrade to NATO fighters’ close range weapons suite to go from memorandum of agreement to reality, but it looks like the day has finally arrived:
In a world first for an Air Force and an infra-red guided missile, Air Combat Group (ACG) of the Royal Australian Air Force has successfully carried out the first in-service ‘Lock After Launch’ firing of an ASRAAM (Advanced short-range air-to-air missile) at a target located behind the wing-line of the “shooter” aircraft. The firing was conducted from an F/A-18 fighter aircraft, at low level and typical fighter speed, at a target located behind the fighter at a range in excess of 5km. The result was a direct hit on the target.
It’d be tempting to say that a shoot’em-off-your-six missile was a unique requirement of the RAAF, but that (alas) would come back around and bite me. I’ve flown against Australian fighter pilots in FA-18s, and they know the trade as well anyone, in a close-in brawl.
Was the missile made in France, peut-être ?
I always heard the missile referred to as the ASIWYWD (pronounced Ashwood”). Of course that came about from a phrase uttered by fighter pilots upon looking behind them and spotting something untoward e.g “Ah SH–! I wish you were dead! Looks like that may now be a reality.
comment withdrawn
Nice having eyes in the back of your head. Nicer to have teeth that bite backwards as well. Could make for some seriously cool rope-a-dopes if one were prone to walking the thinner line.
Just a little something for that one moment when you’ve already used your last best move and you STILL have that ugly little signal at your six. Gonna make “stick one in the snot locker” have new meaning.
THAT made me laugh… but I’m glad ya didn’t actually… umm… say it, yanno?
You beat me to it, Buck. Lex can be quite devious at times…
always said the LAU-7 rails on the A7 were pointed in the wrong direction.
“He got me from his butt. Moe Debbinly from the butt.”
Stop all new entry comments – we have a winner…..
Crap…
Scott/
Was JUST on the phone with a friend in N.O reminisising about Mr. Nick’s. Told him your story not five minutes ago.LOL
PS: For once the acronym is appropriate
Sounds like the critters at ARDU have been busy….
Look After Lunch = Lock After Launch.
You gotta love the acronym. Reminds of Seinfeld when Kramer had the vanity plates “ASSMAN”
Should be:
advanced, short, short range air-to-air missile (ASSRAAM)
b2
Brings DADT a whole new level of meaning….
Ain’t that one of them places in Oregon you go to get your Chakras opened up?
HMS Resolute was also the wood source for the Oval Office desk with the famous little door panel up front.
I think only three or four presidents have not used it since it was given as an unannounced present from Queen Victoria.
Somehow this ended up on the wrong thread.
It was posted on, and is supposed to still live in, the ‘Friday musings’ commentary, apropos transatlantic gift-giving.