Designation: AIM-220 "Velvet Glove"
Function: Medium Range air-to-air
Power Plant: Vectored variable flow ducted rocket
Speed: Mach 4-6
Range: < 240km
Length: 400cm
Diameter: 18cm/24cm
Finspan: 46cm
Warhead: 18kg CR-Frag
Launch Weight: 195kg
Guidance System: Active Radar/Passive Radiation homing/INS/EO
Development:
The AIM-220 is the first in a three-missile series developed to replace the multitude of currently in service Sumerian air to air missiles. The AIM-220 is the medium-range component specifically designed to replace current in-service AIM-190 and AIM-200 missiles, as well as the AIM-150 and AIM-115 missiles currently being phased out. The program was in part sparked by performance concerns between the AIM-190 and AIM-200 against modern missiles in a similar range envelope, and due to the complexity keeping two missiles in service for one role. The core of the Velvet Glove, as it has become to be known, is the focus on performance of the no-escape zone, the area where an alerted enemy aircraft maneuvering to dodge the missile has a low probability of evading. While engagement range and warhead sizes were considered less important then expanding the NEZ. Work began shortly after the AIM-200 became operational in 10,378, with the first prototype not flying until ten years later. Through and quick testing and evaluation processes inter mixed with rapid prototype developing led to an operational-capable missile being first deployed in 10,394, with widespread use expected to occur by 10,400.
Design:
The AIM-220 is designed around a special guidance and motor combination for maximum performance. The guidance package includes advanced lithium-ion batteries integrated to maintain high performance over greater distances. The missile contains a 2-3 stage guidance system, with backups, to ensure a high kill probability on latest generation low-RCS fighters. Upon lock guidance data is transfered to the missile via the hard connections in the mounting. When launched the missile uses this data, including pre-calculated probability data of enemy maneuvers to travel up to 65% of the range to the target, receiving mid-course data link updates from friendly aircraft, ground units or other missiles. At this stage the AIM-220 will undertake semi-active radar homing, searching first for reflected waves from friendly radar off the target, then for the enemy radar itself. After closing further, or if unsuccessful in mid-course up links and passive radar searching, the AIM-220 will begin to search for enemy jamming sources along its intended cone of attack. Once the range to a target has closed sufficiently the AIM-220 will confirm the target with its data banks using the on board electro-optical sensor and complete the engagement using whichever of its three available attack profiles the computer decides is best. This entire process takes only a very short time, with each individual section taking fractions of a second through the solid-state processing computer. The launching aircraft will pre-designate the seeker sequence at launch, however, allowing an abbreviated profile if necessary, or different sequence order depending on target.
The dual-mode warhead is designed to allow three attack profiles upon an enemy plane depending on the aircraft, flight profile, and weapon needs. The warhead itself is a solid explosive bound in a continuous rod with a diameter of five meters fully expanded. The cylinder contains, at the forward end, a checkered-hemispherical plate which, when the explosive detonates, forms a directed fragmentation explosively formed penetrator which directs out forward of the missile. This two-in-one warhead, containing 14kg of explosive, allows the AIM-220 to choose a direct attack or to pull along side the aircraft for use of the CRW aspect. Third, the AIM-220 can physically ram the target aircraft to attack it, but this is hardly ever used.
Individual Seeker performance of the L1120 PESA radar or KJT "Lightning" electro-optical sensor is exceptional, with virtually all the missile targeting after launch done with these systems. The L1120 radar is capable of acting in either passive or active mode, and includes home-on-jam capability and advanced decoy-discerning software. The "Lightning" E/O system is similarly designed to be highly resistant to decoys, although design ranges are only 10-20km worth of use for terminal guidance and target confirmation. The use of a two-way data link enhances combat capability, allowing guidance or target updates to be taken from friendly aircraft, or for up to six missiles in a group to work together against up to six different targets. The AIM-220 can, if working in a group, switch targets with other missiles for optimal engagement performance of necessary.
Propulsion for the AIM-220 is provided by a variable flow ducted rocket using a solid no-smoke propellant. The use of a ducted rocket allows long rocket burn times at high speeds, keeping the missile going off its own energy before having to revert to momentum. The variable flow of the ducted rocket allows the missile to maintain a constant speed or to increase or decrease speed as needed for interception, allowing flight and terminal speeds to vary depending on engagement envelope from Mach four to Mach six. However, higher speeds burn out the rocket fuel quicker. The nozzle for the ducted rocket is vectored in three axis, allowing enhanced performance and maneuverability while the engine is still running, intended to improve NEZ performance. Intake for the ducted rocket is located on the ventral side of the missile.
The primary control surfaces of the AIM-220, apart from the thrust vectoring, are three lattice-mesh control, surfaces at the rear of the missile. these control surfaces allow increased performance over the fin arrangement of previous generation missiles with less aerodynamic drag. The dorsal side of the missile, where hard connectors for the rail are situated, contains a stabilizing tail fin intended to keep the missile from tearing itself to pieces during high-g maneuvers, directly behind which is a lattice-mesh control surface. Placed near the middle of the missile on either side are two small winglets designed to provide a small amount of lift to the missile and increase flight range by taking lift effort off the rocket motor. In line with these, at the rear of the missile, are the remaining two lattice-mesh control surfaces. All three lattice-mesh control surfaces fold against the body or in line with the dorsal fin to minimize internal-carrying volume, while both winglets fold upward near their base. The nature of the layout of the missile allows it to be carried internally, but dictate that a missile must be "dropped" to launch, with the engine engaging after release from a rail.
Variants
The basic AIM-220 is accompanied by several variants to include a wide range of capabilities. The AIM-220S is the surface launched air-defense variant and differs only in the inclusion of a solid booster and corresponding reduced maximum range. There are also AIM-220D Inert training and AIM-220R unarmed drone variants. The export variant is known as the AIM-220E and is the only variant not available to recognized close allies of the Dictatorial Republic. The AIM-220E differs from the regular AIM-220 in its removal of the ability to work within the Sumerian battle network, and the overall reduction of capability of the seeker systems and battery. The use of commercial off the shelf technology in the AIM-220E has thusly both reduced cost and capability, but none the less the AIM-220E as a whole remains a very potent, and unique, weapon with a large no-escape zone.
Export
Sale is thus only permitted to states or national/transnational entities that the Protectorate has both dealt with before, and that Executive Command considers trustworthy. On-sale is strictly prohibited without the express authorisation of Lyran Arms, and subject to veto by the Dictatorial Republic.
Only nations with whom Lyras and/or Sumer enjoy a formal alliance in the true sense of the word are permitted DPRs to the Velvet Glove system (DPR level 3) . Again, distribution and on-sale is strictly prohibited. If such an action is required, please contact the Executive Command Staff for approval. Should a state not be eligible for DPRs, purchase of batches of AIM-220 is still permitted, should Executive Command's stated considerations be met.
Unit Cost: NS$800,000 (AIM-220)
DPRs to the AIM-220, to allies only, are available at NS$150bn.
Queries or purchases through Lyran Arms.
