Air-to-Air Missile Market Overview

摘要

In contrast the 1990s, the air-to-air missile (AAM) market will shift back to a situation where short-range missiles will be built in larger numbers than medium range AAMs though medium range AAMs will represent a larger fraction of the market in terms of overall value. Short-range missiles will not achieve the dominance they once enjoyed, as beyond-visual-range missiles have become favored. While this is due in part to tactical changes, the newer short-range AAMs employ imaging infrared seekers that add considerably to their cost. The increasing number of short-range missiles now being acquired is due to the recent advent of a new generation of short-range AAMs such as the AJM-9X, IRIS-T, ASRAAM and others. As in the case of fighter aircraft, the increasing effectiveness and cost of the new generation of missiles will lead to fewer missiles being acquired, though the actual expense of the acquisition programs will remain similar.