Raytheon AMRAAM-ER

History

Raytheon AMRAAM-ER, or Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile Extended Range, is a ground-launched air-defense missile developed for use with the NASAMS air-defense system. It extends the reach of the AMRAAM family by combining a larger rocket motor with optimized flight-control algorithms.

The missile is intended to intercept airborne targets at longer distances and higher altitudes than the standard surface-launched AMRAAM. Its development has been closely linked to NASAMS, with Raytheon and Kongsberg working on missile integration, launcher compatibility and system-level testing.

AMRAAM-ER completed its first live-fire test in 2021 and entered a transition toward full-rate production under a U.S. Air Force contract awarded in 2026. In September 2026, Raytheon also identified AMRAAM-ER as compatible with the Australian NASAMS configuration.

Development and testing

AMRAAM-ER was developed specifically for ground-based air defense rather than as an aircraft-launched weapon. The design uses a larger and more powerful rocket motor than the standard AMRAAM configuration. The motor is manufactured by Nammo, while Raytheon developed the missile as part of its wider AMRAAM and NASAMS work.

The first AMRAAM-ER live-fire test was completed in 2021 at the Andoya Space Defense Center in Norway. The test used a new NASAMS launcher designed to accommodate the missile's larger dimensions. It generated flight data intended to support further improvement of the missile's software algorithms.

The test also demonstrated the missile as part of a complete NASAMS engagement chain. The configuration included the NASAMS system, a Sentinel radar and Kongsberg's Fire Distribution Center. During an international flight test at Andoya, an AMRAAM-ER was launched from NASAMS and successfully engaged and destroyed a target drone.

Production

In April 2026, the U.S. Air Force awarded Raytheon a contract valued at up to $234.8 million to transition AMRAAM-ER into full-rate production. The contract marked a move from earlier development and integration activity toward sustained production of the extended-range missile.

Work associated with the production-transition contract is scheduled for completion by 13 April 2030. The contract also includes foreign military sales associated with Hungary, Kuwait, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Taiwan. Inclusion in the contract represents procurement activity and does not by itself establish the operational status of AMRAAM-ER in each country.

Design

AMRAAM-ER is an extended-range derivative of the AMRAAM missile concept adapted for surface launch. Its principal physical change is a larger rocket motor, which provides the additional energy required to extend both engagement distance and altitude from a ground launch.

Raytheon states that the missile also uses optimized flight-control algorithms. These changes are intended to compensate for the disadvantages inherent in a surface launch, where the missile begins its flight without the altitude and forward velocity available to an air-launched weapon.

Propulsion and flight performance

The missile is powered by a Nammo-manufactured rocket motor. The increased motor size and power are the primary sources of the extended performance attributed to AMRAAM-ER.

Raytheon has described AMRAAM-ER as capable of intercepting targets at longer ranges and higher altitudes than the baseline surface-launched AMRAAM. A Raytheon representative stated that the extended-range configuration increases range by around 50 percent and altitude capability by about 70 percent. The available material does not provide an absolute maximum range or engagement altitude for the AMRAAM-ER.

NASAMS integration

AMRAAM-ER is integrated with NASAMS for medium-range ground-based air defense. Its larger dimensions required a NASAMS launcher configuration able to accommodate the missile, and such a launcher was used during the first live-fire test in 2021.

Within NASAMS, the missile forms part of a networked engagement system rather than operating as an independent weapon. Testing has included the missile, launcher, Sentinel radar and Kongsberg Fire Distribution Center as a complete engagement chain.

Program status

By 2026, AMRAAM-ER had progressed beyond flight testing into a full-rate production transition. The April 2026 U.S. Air Force contract provides funding for the industrial and production activities required to manufacture the missile at sustained scale.

In September 2026, Raytheon identified AMRAAM-ER as part of the effector suite compatible with Australia's NASAMS configuration. The Australian system also incorporates locally developed CEA Technologies radars, Kongsberg's Fire Distribution Centre, a Raytheon High Mobility Launcher mounted on the Hawkei vehicle and a Raytheon Australia multispectral ground system.

Australia's NASAMS achieved final operational capability in September 2026. The public identification of AMRAAM-ER within the Australian configuration establishes compatibility and planned system integration, but the available material does not establish that Australia had conducted an AMRAAM-ER live firing or placed the missile itself into operational service by that date.

Specifications (AMRAAM-ER)

General characteristics

• Type: Ground-launched extended-range air-defense missile
• Manufacturer: Raytheon
• Primary system integration: NASAMS
• Propulsion: Enlarged rocket motor manufactured by Nammo
• Launch equipment: NASAMS launcher configured to accommodate the larger AMRAAM-ER missile

Performance

• Range improvement: Approximately 50 percent greater than the standard AMRAAM configuration, as stated by Raytheon
• Altitude improvement: Approximately 70 percent greater than the standard AMRAAM configuration, as stated by Raytheon
• Flight control: Optimized flight-control algorithms
• Engagement profile: Designed to intercept targets at longer distances and higher altitudes from a ground launch

Related equipment

• AIM-120 AMRAAM: The missile family from which the extended-range ground-launched concept is derived.
• NASAMS: The ground-based air-defense system with which AMRAAM-ER is integrated.