SRAAM
The Short Range Air-to-Air Missile, or SRAAM for short, initially known as Taildog, was an experimental British infrared homing ("heat seeking") air-to-air missile, developed between 1968 and 1980 by Hawker Siddeley Dynamics. It was designed to be very manoeuvrable for use at short range in a dogfight situation. SRAAM was unusual in that it was launched from a launch tube instead of being attached to a launch rail, allowing two to be carried on a single mounting point.
| Taildog/SRAAM | |
|---|---|
SRAAM mockup at Royal Air Force Museum Cosford | |
| Type | Short-range air-to-air missile |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Experimental programme only |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Hawker Siddeley |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | ca. 70 kg (150 lb) |
| Length | 2.75 m (9 ft 0 in) |
| Diameter | 165 mm (6.5 in) |
| Wingspan | ca. 320 mm (13 in) |
Operational range | 250 m – 2 km |
Guidance system | Infra-red |
Steering system | thrust vectoring |
Launch platform | aircraft |
Although initially intended to replace the AIM-9 Sidewinder, it was downgraded to a technology demonstrator program in 1974. Between 1974 and 1977, several SRAAM missiles were launched in tests. In 1980, the knowledge gained from the SRAAM project was used in the ASRAAM missile project.