Futuristic Air to Air Missile

[SeaQueen]

Thought you guys might be interested in CUDA, the possible new hit-to-kill air to air missile being marketed as "half-raam" because it's about half as long as AMRAAM. The idea is that they could carry more of them in the weapons bay of an F-35 or F-22. Not sure if it's worth including in the database yet, but it's something to keep an eye on.

http://aviationweek.com/awin/lockheed-r ... e-concepts
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... le-382670/
http://theaviationist.com/2012/11/30/cuda/
http://elementsofpower.blogspot.com/201 ... ssile.html

[NakedWeasel]

We've had some discussions about it on this forum before. I think it's wunderbar and all, but it's probably at least 20 years away from IOC, at a minimum.

[SeaQueen]

That may be true, but keep in mind, a defense acquisitions program is 20-30 years long these days.

ORIGINAL: NakedWeasel
We've had some discussions about it on this forum before. I think it's wunderbar and all, but it's probably at least 20 years away from IOC, at a minimum.

[cf_dallas]

20 years is a bit pessimistic for integrating off the shelf technologies, don't you think? 10, maybe, but it's not like they're inventing anything new.

[NakedWeasel]

Well, could it be put in to production and fielded within 5 years? Probably. Do we have the need and funding to do it in that time span? Probably not. I can see that this is the direction we are headed. Miniaturization has always been attractive, and the logical way to proceed, but it is not inexpensive or accomplished quickly.

[springtime]

Keep in mind that the AIM-120 was in tasting
In 1981 so 10 years development time seems likely