LaunchplatformAircraft:.The AIM-7 Sparrow is an American, medium-range operated by the, and, as well as other various air forces and navies. Sparrow and its derivatives were the West's principal beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile from the late 1950s until the 1990s. It remains in service, although it is being phased out in aviation applications in favor of the more advanced.The early Sparrow was intended primarily for use against larger targets and especially bombers, and had numerous operational limitations in other uses. Against smaller targets, the need to receive a strong reflected radar signal made achieving at the missile's effective range difficult. As the launching aircraft's own radar needed to be pointed at the target throughout the engagement, this meant that in fighter-vs-fighter combat the enemy fighter would often approach within the range of shorter-range missiles while the launching aircraft had to continue flying towards its target.
Active certificant’s may choose to recertify by submitting a completed journal online through the Customer Portal containing at least 60 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits and paying the recertification fee. The Recertification by Journal fee is: $100 US (Payment Policy) IMPORTANT: A completed journal MUST be submitted with the minimum required 60 CPE’s credits and.
Additionally, early models were only effective against targets at roughly the same or higher altitudes, below which reflections from the ground became a problem.A number of upgraded Sparrow designs were developed to address these issues. In the early 1970s, the developed a version with an and improved motor known as, while the introduced the similar. Both had the ability to be fired at targets below the launching fighter ('look-down, shoot down'), were more resistant to countermeasures, and much more accurate in the terminal phases. This basic concept was then made part of the US Sparrows in the M model (for monopulse) and some of these were later updated as the P model, the last to be produced in the US. Aspides sold to resulted in the locally produced. The also employ the Sparrow missile, though it is being phased out and replaced by the.The Sparrow was also used as the basis for a, the, which is used by a number of navies for air defense of their ships.
Fired at low altitude and flying directly at its target through the lower atmosphere, the range of the missile in this role is greatly reduced. With the retirement of the Sparrow in the air-to-air role, a new version of the Sea Sparrow was produced to address this concern, producing the much larger and more capable.NATO pilots use the in radio communication to signal launch of a Semi-Active Radar Homing Missile such as the Sparrow.
Sparrow I's during tests on a in the early 1950sThe Sparrow emerged from a late-1940s program to develop a guided rocket weapon for air-to-air use. In 1947 the Navy contracted to build a version of a standard 5-inch (127 mm), the standard unguided aerial rocket, under Project Hotshot. The weapon was initially dubbed KAS-1, then AAM-2, and, from 1948 on, AAM-N-2. The airframe was developed. The diameter of the HVAR proved to be inadequate for the electronics, leading Douglas to expand the missile's airframe to 8-inch (203 mm) diameter. The prototype weapon began unpowered flight-tests in 1947, and made its first aerial interception in 1952.After a protracted development cycle the initial AAM-N-2 Sparrow entered limited operational service in 1954 with specially modified all weather carrier night fighters.
In 1956, they were joined by the. Compared to the modern versions, the Sparrow I was more and featured a bullet-shaped airframe with a long pointed nose.Sparrow I was a limited and rather primitive weapon. The limitations of beam-riding guidance (which was slaved to an optical sight on single seater fighters and a radar with night fighters) restricted the missile to attacks against targets flying a straight course and made it essentially useless against a maneuvering target. Only about 2,000 rounds were produced to this standard.Sparrow II.
Sparrow 2 MissileAs early as 1950 Douglas examined equipping the Sparrow with an active radar seeker, initially known as XAAM-N-2a Sparrow II, the original retroactively becoming Sparrow I. In 1952 it was given the new code AAM-N-3. The active radar made the Sparrow II a 'fire and forget' weapon, allowing several to be fired at separate targets at the same time.By 1955 Douglas proposed going ahead with development, intending it to be the primary weapon for the. It was later selected, with some controversy, to be the primary weapon for the Canadian supersonic interceptor, along with the new Astra fire-control system. For Canadian use and as a second source for US missiles, was selected to build the missiles in.The small size of the missile forebody and the K-band AN/APQ-64-radar limited performance, and it was never able to work in testing. After considerable development and test firings in the U.S. And Canada, Douglas abandoned development in 1956.
Canadair continued development until the Arrow was cancelled in 1959.Sparrow X A subvariant of the Sparrow I armed with the same nuclear warhead as the was proposed in 1958, but was cancelled shortly thereafter.Sparrow III. Launching a Sparrow III in 1958Concurrently with the development of the Sparrow I, in 1951, began work on the version of Sparrow family of missiles, the AAM-N-6 Sparrow III. The first of these weapons entered service in 1958.The AAM-N-6a was similar to the -6, but used a new liquid-fuel rocket engine for improved performance.
It also included changes to the guidance electronics to make it effective at higher closing speeds. The -6a was also selected to arm the Air Force's F-110A Spectre fighters in 1962, known to them as the AIM-101. It entered production in 1959, with 7500 being built.Another upgrade reverted to a Rocketdyne solid-fuel motor for the AAM-N-6b, which started production in 1963. The new motor significantly increased maximum range to 35 kilometres (22 mi) for head-on attacks.During this year the Air Force and Navy agreed on standardized naming conventions for their missiles.
The Sparrows became the AIM-7 series. The original Sparrow I and aborted Sparrow II became the AIM-7A and AIM-7B, despite both being out of service. The -6, -6a, and -6B became the AIM-7C, AIM-7D, and AIM-7E respectively.25,000 AIM-7Es were produced, and saw extensive use during the, where its performance was generally considered disappointing. The mixed results were a combination of reliability problems (exacerbated by the tropical climate), limited pilot training in fighter-to-fighter combat, and restrictive rules of engagement that generally prohibited BVR (beyond visual range) engagements. The P k (kill probability) of the AIM-7E was less than 10%; US fighter pilots shot down 59 aircraft out of the 612 Sparrows fired. Of the 612 AIM-7D/E/E-2 missiles fired, 97 (or 15.8%) hit their targets, resulting in 56 (or 9.2%) kills.
Two kills were obtained beyond visual range.In 1969 an improved version, the E-2, was introduced with clipped wings and various changes to the fuzing. Considered a 'dogfight Sparrow', the AIM-7E-2 was intended to be used at shorter ranges where the missile was still travelling at high speeds, and in the head-on aspect, making it much more useful in the visual limitations imposed on the engagements. Even so, its kill rate was only 13% in combat, leading to a practice of ripple-firing all four at once in hopes of increasing kill probability. Its worst tendency was that of detonating prematurely, approximately a thousand feet in front of the launching aircraft, but it also had many motor failures, erratic flights, and fuzing problems. A Sparrow II is tested at a Canadair facility. Note the RCAF roundels painted on the fins.As part of the program, Canadair (now ) partnered with in the development of the Sparrow II (AAM-N-3/AIM-7B).
After Douglas dropped out of this program, continued on with it until the termination of the Arrow project.The AAM-N-3 Sparrow II was unique in that it had a fully system. This combined both a radar transmitter and receiver in the missile, making it unnecessary for the pilot to keep the aircraft aimed at the target after firing the missile, unlike (SARH) missiles which require continuous radar-assisted guidance throughout flight. This allowed the aircraft that fired the AAM-N-3 to turn away, prosecute other targets, and/or escape from potential retaliatory missiles fired by the enemy aircraft during the time it takes for the Sparrow to reach its target. Despite the significant advantages of this design over SARH guidance, all subsequent models of the Sparrow use.To accommodate the active radar guidance system, the AAM-N-3 Sparrow II had a much greater volume than its predecessor.
Its size would subsequently set the precedent for all future Sparrow variants.In 1959, Canadair had completed five missiles based on airframes from Douglas, and built two models from scratch, when the program was cancelled with the cancellation of the Arrow. Main article:The LY-60/FD-60/PL-10 is a family of PRC missiles developed by the Shanghai Academy of Science and Technology, largely based on the Italian Aspide missile – a version of the Sparrow.
There are four versions of the basic design, three of which are surface-to-air and one air-to-air.Soviet Union The Soviet Union acquired an AIM-7 in 1968 and a team started copying it as the K-25. The missile did not enter production as the was thought to have better versatility, range, signal processing logic, and immunity from interference. K-25 work ended in 1971, but analysis of the Sparrow was later used to inform the design of the, particularly the servomechanisms and movable wings.
The Skyflash looked identical to the Sparrow from the outside, but housed a greatly improved seeker and upgraded motor.(BAe) licensed the AIM-7E2 technology in the 1970s, producing the Skyflash missile. Skyflash used a Marconi XJ521 monopulse Semi-Active seeker together with improvements to the electronics. It was powered by the Aerojet Mk52 mod 2 rocket engine (later by the Rocketdyne Mk38 mod 4).
Skyflash entered service with the (RAF) on their in 1978, and later on the. Skyflash was also exported to Sweden for use on their fighters.An upgraded version with active radar seeker, called Active Sky Flash was proposed by BAe and, but did not receive funding because the RAF opted for other missiles. Design The Sparrow has four major sections: guidance section, control, and rocket motor (currently the Hercules MK-58 solid-propellant rocket motor). It has a cylindrical body with four wings at mid-body and four tail fins. Although the external dimensions of the Sparrow remained relatively unchanged from model to model, the internal components of newer missiles represent major improvements, with vastly increased capabilities.
The warhead is of the type.As with other semi-active radar guided missiles, the missile does not generate radar signals, but instead homes in on reflected continuous-wave signals from the launch platform's radar. The receiver also senses the guidance radar to enable comparisons that enhance the missile's resistance to passive jamming.Principle of guidance The launching aircraft will illuminate the target with its radar. In radars of the 1950s these were single target tracking devices using a horn as part of the antenna. This caused the beam to be swept in a small cone.
![Re-certify Re-certify](/uploads/1/2/5/3/125364441/101490111.jpg)
Signal processing would be applied to determine the direction of maximum illumination and so develop a signal to steer the antenna toward the target. The missile detects the reflected signal from the target with a high gain antenna in a similar fashion and steers the entire missile toward closure with the target. The missile guidance also samples a portion of the illuminating signal via rearward pointing. The comparison of these two signals enabled logic circuits to determine the true target reflection signal, even if the target were to eject radar-reflecting.Operators. From the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2006. ^ 3 March 2016 at the.
Designation Systems. (PDF). 25 April 1997: 14.
Archived from (PDF) on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
Hearst Magazines (November 1954). Hearst Magazines.
P. 116. Michel III p. 286, 287. (PDF).
Archived from (PDF) on 20 July 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2014. ^ McCarthy Jr., p. 148-157. (PDF). Archived from (PDF) on 20 July 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
From the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
^. From the original on 27 May 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2017. From the original on 9 April 2015.
Retrieved 15 November 2014. Barrie, Douglas (27 November 1996). From the original on 29 November 2014.
Retrieved 15 November 2014. 21 March 1999. Archived from on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
21 March 1999. Archived from on 13 March 2007. Retrieved 4 November 2018.Bibliography.