Raytheon recently performed three successful tests of the advanced medium-range air-to-air missile in conjunction with USAF and the Spanish Army at Sweden’s missile test range in Vidsel, Sweden. The surface-launched AMRAAM hit the target drone, according to a Raytheon statement. Raytheon officials also said two additional shots demonstrated a new command destruct/self destruct capability that allows the precision weapon to engage cruise missile and UAV threats while decreasing collateral damage.
The defense intelligence community has tried three times in the past decade to build a “common intelligence picture”—a single data stream providing the information that commanders need to make decisions about the battlefield. The first two attempts failed. But officials say things are different today.