International AMRAAM Tests

Norway, Finland, Switzerland and Turkey have conducted a series of successful AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles tests designed to validate the effectiveness of a new processor card, according to the manufacturer Raytheon.

The four foreign military sales customers currently field the C7-model AMRAAM, as opposed to the newer AIM-120D being developed by the Air Force. The test campaign, named Thor's Hammer, marks the completion of developmental testing for the AIM-120C7, Raytheon said in a Dec. 8 press statement.

"AIM-120C7 has been in production since the mid-2000s but had to undergo new testing because its processor card, which instructs its advanced radar and other components, was upgraded," the company said in a another posting on its website. "In particular, the tests in September helped ensure that the missile’s computing instructions were translated correctly into the new processor’s more advanced programming language."Raytheon said five test shots were conducted, one each from a Swiss F-18 and Turkish F-16 at Sweden's Vidsel Test Range.

Norway and Finland fired one and two ground-launched shots respectively from their National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), produced by Raytheon.

The NASAMS air defense system has been purchased by several countries and are deployed around the Washington Capital Region.

The tests shot down five aerial target drones -- four Firejets and one MQM-107 Streaker, Raytheon said.