"Scott Ferrin" wrote in message
news
On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 19:33:30 -0400, Air Force Jayhawk
wrote:

On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 16:23:33 -0600, Scott Ferrin
wrote:


AIM-9X




"Integration of the missile on the Lockheed Martin F/A-22, which
requires internal carriage of the missile, has been delayed at least
until the spiral three (developmental) stage of the program around
2011."


SEVEN Y-E-A-R-S???? What's the holdup? They've already fired guided
-9Ms.

AIM-9X is a whole new animal with it's High off boresight capability.


Yeah, I understand all that but seven years? Doesn't that seem a tad
excessive?

It may just be a priority issue. Currently, air to mud is more important
that air to air in terms of threats and missions. The off-axis AAMs are here
now but AIM-120 is thought to meet most requirements and we don't currently
have an opponent with both the aircraft and weapons to stress that solution.
China may be a position to do so in 8-10 years but not now. Russia has the
technology and may recover economically in 10-15 years but not now.