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- Canadian Defence Policy, Foreign Policy, & Canada-US Relations -

In Detail ——  IMP – the CF18 Incremental Modernization Program ——

by Allan Ng M.Eng., P.Eng. (with ST Priestley)

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Canadian Defence Procurement  –  November 2003 The CF18 Incremental Modernization Program  –  In Detail Allan Ng reviews DND's CF18 fighter aircraft modernization plan  (Part 9) Follow-Ons to the Engineering Change Proposal 583  –  Short-Range AAMs? IRIS-T – AAM Alternative The improbably-named IRIS-T (or Infra-Red Imagery Sidewinder Tail controlled) is aimed at producing a replacement for NATO-standard AIM-9 short-range AAMs. It is a multi-national project initiated by Germany who was joined by Italy, Sweden, Greece, and later Norway and Canada. Like its US AIM-9X rival, the IRIS-T is based on earlier NATO-standard AIM-9M components.  Also like the AIM-9X,  IRIS-T uses thrust-vectoring to manoeuvre. AlliedSignal Canada was responsible for IRIS-T's rear control section including the four fins.  The thrust vectoring is done with four paddle-like vanes mounted within the exhaust nozzle. Manoeuvres are performed by redirecting the rocket motor's exhaust plume with those vanes, making possible turns in excess of 50g.  The infrared seeker-head's field-of- view is about 90° and this AAM can be 'slaved' to a JHMCS-like helmet sight. IRIS-T was to be operational by 2005 but, continued Canadian participation is no longer assured. AlliedSignal has been bought (by Honeywell) and it remains to be seen whether the new owners will want to remain in the IRIS-T consortium. Another short-range AAM which cannot be discounted is the British ASRAAM (Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile). ASRAAM was originally meant to be a German/British co-development of a short-range NATO-standard partner to the US medium-range AMRAAM.  However, the US broke ranks, deciding to develop its own Sidewinder replacement. Then, in 1990, Germany also decided to pursue its own AAM development (which emerged as the IRIS-T).  Pundits predicted ASRAAM would founder but, instead, this project has recently received its first export order – and it is significant for DND. Australia has chosen ASRAAM for its new short-range AAM as a part of the RAAF's Hornet upgrade program. Since AIM-9X, IRIS-T, and ASRAAM were all designed as NATO-standard Side- winder replacements, all three missile types can be used from the upgraded CF18 launchers.[1]  While DND waits for funding for a new short-range AAM,  the CF undertook an 'AIM-9 Missile Shelf-Life Extension' project to ensure that existing AIM-9Ms are "still safe to stockpile". This affords DND the luxury of being able to watch-and-wait to see how its allies fare with Sidewinder replacement missiles.