Sunday, November 23, 2008

IRIS-T

IOC: 2005
Total Production: 4,000
Total Program's Cost: USD$1.1 billion

LFK NG

IOC: 2008

Also Known As
LFK NG leFla

Origin
Germany

Contractor/s
Diehl-Gruppe
EADS

Applications
LeFlaSys

Family Members
IDAS
IRIS-T
IRIS-T SL
IRIS-T SLS

Description: The IRIS-T is an International initiative to replace current AIM-9L/M Sidewinder short-range, air-to-air missiles. The missile combines advanced aerodynamics and thrust vector control in a tail controlled airframe to achieve outstanding performance. It utilizes a solid-propellant rocket motor. IRIS-T features a roll-pitch (128x128) IR seeker with �90� look angle for high off-boresight angle missile engagements. Engagements against targets in the rear hemisphere can be done successfully with the missile locked-on target after launch. IRIS-T outstanding agility is the key to successfully engage highly maneuverable advanced aircraft.

Overall, IRIS-T delivers increased agility, target acquisition range, hit accuracy, a more effective warhead and considerably improved protection against countermeasures compared with the Sidewinder missile. The mass, length, diameter and interface of the IRIS-T missile are very close to its predecessor achieving a high degree of compatibility which is a must for the IRIS-T program. During the flight tests, the IRIS-T achieved direct impact on the target even with IRCM (IR countermeasures) presence. The highly maneuverable IRIS-T missile will be integrated onto Typhoon, Gripen, F-16, Tornado, and F/A-18 aircraft. Dhiel BGT is the prime contractor for the program and Germany is the lead nation.

The LFK NG is a variant of IRIS-T air-to-air missile intended for short range air defense system applications in support of mobile land-based forces. Equipped with a high sensitivity IR sensor LFK NG would provide the German Army (Bundeswehr) the capability to successful engage low signature airborne targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), missiles, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. As of December 2005, LFK NG is still an experimental study carried out between Diehl BGT and EADS LFK.

LFK NG is being optimized against fast and maneuverable targets and more impressive targets hidden and masked behind hindrance. The last group of targets can not be engaged with current missile systems. The missile retains the main features of the IRIS-T missile (IR, TVC, kinematics) adding a new warhead. The German Army would field its first LFK NG based air defense system in 2008 complementing Stinger missile systems and ultimately replacing them.

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, November 22, 2008

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