The Most Advanced Air-to-Air Missile, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the air-to-air missile you think is the most advanced!

Updated on May 7, 2024 06:16

In the world of military technology, air-to-air missiles play a crucial role in defining aerial combat strategies and national security defenses. Their development shapes the tactical capabilities of air forces globally. Currently, there's a broad array of technologies and advancements embodied in these missiles, and understanding their capabilities can be vital. This website hosts a ranking system driven by your votes to list the most advanced air-to-air missiles as perceived by public knowledge and interest. Each vote helps to clarify which technologies stand at the forefront of aerospace military science, making this a continually updated and community-guided resource. Your participation directly impacts the visibility and perceived importance of these sophisticated technologies.

What Is the Most Advanced Air-to-air Missile?

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43
votes
Cliff · CC BY 2.0

AIM-120 AMRAAM

Raytheon

The AIM-120 is one of the most advanced air-to-air missiles in the world, with a range of over 100 miles and the ability to engage multiple targets simultaneously. It is currently in service with the US military and several other countries.
The AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) is a modern air-to-air missile that provides exceptional performance and capability.

Type: Active radar homing air-to-air missile

Origin: United States

Service: 1981-present

Weight: 335 kg (738 lb)

Length: 3.66 m (12 ft)
2

34
votes
Meteor

The Meteor is a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed by MBDA, with a range of over 100 miles and advanced guidance systems that allow it to track and destroy targets even in highly maneuverable situations.
The Meteor is an advanced air-to-air missile designed for superior performance in aerial engagements. It is characterized by its long-range capability, high precision, and advanced guidance system.

Type: Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile

Length: 3.65 meters

Diameter: 0.178 meters

Weight: 185 kilograms

Range: 100+ kilometers
3

34
votes
R-77

The R-77 is a Russian-made air-to-air missile that is highly maneuverable and has a range of up to 100 miles. It is used by the Russian military and several other countries.
The R-77, also known as the AA-12 Adder, is a highly advanced medium-range air-to-air missile designed for aerial combat. It is capable of engaging and destroying enemy aircraft with high precision and agility.

Diameter: 0.2 meters

Weight: 175 kg

Type: Medium-range air-to-air missile

Length: 3.6 meters

Warhead: High explosive fragmentation
4

22
votes
PL-15

The PL-15 is a Chinese-made air-to-air missile with a range of over 100 miles and advanced guidance systems that allow it to engage highly maneuverable targets. It is currently in service with the Chinese military.
The PL-15 is a long-range air-to-air missile designed for use by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of China. It is considered one of the most advanced missiles in its category.

Type: Long-range air-to-air missile

Length: 6.8 meters

Weight: 2300 kg

Warhead: High-explosive fragmentation or kinetic energy penetrator

Maximum Speed: Mach 5+
5

15
votes
AIM-9X

The AIM-9X is a highly maneuverable air-to-air missile used by the US military and several other countries. It has a range of up to 22 miles and advanced guidance systems that allow it to track and engage targets in highly maneuverable situations.
The AIM-9X is a highly advanced air-to-air missile primarily used by the United States military. It is a short-range, infrared-guided missile designed for air combat engagements.

Length: 119 inches (3 m)

Wingspan: 22 inches (0.56 m)

Weight: 190 pounds (86 kg)

Speed: Mach 2.5+

Range: Over 22 miles (35 km)
6

5
votes
Derby

The Derby is an Israeli-made air-to-air missile with a range of up to 50 miles and advanced guidance systems that allow it to engage targets at high altitudes and in highly maneuverable situations. It is currently in service with the Israeli military and several other countries.
The Derby is an advanced air-to-air missile designed for use in modern military aircraft. It is a medium-range, fire-and-forget missile capable of engaging multiple targets simultaneously. The missile utilizes an active radar seeker and advanced guidance algorithms to deliver high precision and effectiveness. Its design ensures excellent performance in both long-range engagements and within visual range combat scenarios.

Range: 50+ kilometers

Guidance: Active radar seeker

Engagement Capability: Multiple targets simultaneously

Initiative: Fire-and-forget

Performance: Excellent in long-range and visual range
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10
votes
Python-5

The Python-5 is an Israeli-made air-to-air missile that is highly maneuverable and has a range of up to 20 miles. It is currently in service with the Israeli military and several other countries.
The Python-5 is a highly advanced air-to-air missile designed for modern combat aircraft. It is an improved variant of the original Python missile series developed by the Israeli defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.

Type: Air-to-air missile

Length: 3.1 meters

Diameter: 160 millimeters

Weight: 105 kilograms

Warhead: High-explosive with proximity fuse
8

8
votes
IRIS-T

The IRIS-T is a German-made air-to-air missile with a range of up to 12 miles and advanced guidance systems that allow it to engage highly maneuverable targets. It is currently in service with several European countries.
The IRIS-T is a highly advanced air-to-air missile that was developed for use by fighter aircraft. It is designed to engage and destroy enemy aircraft at various ranges and altitudes. The missile utilizes state-of-the-art infrared imaging seeker technology, which allows for effective target acquisition and tracking in all weather conditions. The IRIS-T has proven to be highly reliable and effective in combat scenarios.

Length: 3.06 meters

Diameter: 0.16 meters

Weight: 87 kilograms

Speed: Mach 3

Range: 25 kilometers
9

2
votes
MICA

The MICA is a French-made air-to-air missile with a range of up to 50 miles and advanced guidance systems that allow it to engage targets at high altitudes and in highly maneuverable situations. It is currently in service with several European countries.
MICA (Missile d'Interception, de Combat et d'Autodéfense) is a highly advanced air-to-air missile designed for multi-role operations. It is a short and medium-range interception missile capable of engaging multiple targets simultaneously.

Origin: France

Type: Air-to-air missile

Guidance system: Infrared (IR) and active radar homing

Operational range: Up to 80 km (50 miles)

Speed: Mach 4+
10

5
votes
AIM-132 ASRAAM

The AIM-132 ASRAAM is a British-made air-to-air missile with a range of up to 18 miles and advanced guidance systems that allow it to engage highly maneuverable targets. It is currently in service with several European countries.
The AIM-132 ASRAAM (Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile) is an advanced, highly maneuverable and highly accurate air-to-air missile designed for close combat engagements. It is known for its capabilities to engage and destroy both subsonic and supersonic targets.

Length: 3.2 meters

Diameter: 166 millimeters

Weight: 87 kilograms

Warhead: Blast-fragmentation with delayed impact and proximity fuze

Range: Within 25 kilometers

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Ranking factors for advanced air-to-air missile

Range

The maximum distance at which the missile can effectively engage and destroy a target is a key factor. A longer range allows a fighter aircraft to engage enemy aircraft from a safe distance, reducing the risk of being targeted.
Guidance system

The technology used for guiding the missile towards the target is crucial for its accuracy and effectiveness. Advanced guidance systems include active radar homing, infrared homing, or semi-active radar homing.
Seeker technology

The seeker is the device in the missile that detects and locks onto the target. Advanced seekers have better detection ranges, anti-jamming capabilities, and the ability to track multiple targets simultaneously.
Maneuverability

The missile's ability to change direction and evade enemy countermeasures is important for ensuring a successful hit. Advanced missiles have thrust vectoring and high-G maneuverability.
Speed

The faster a missile can travel, the less time an enemy has to react and deploy countermeasures. Some advanced missiles can reach Mach 3 or 4.
Warhead type and size

The type and size of the warhead impact the ability of a missile to destroy its target. Some missiles use a blast-fragmentation type warhead, which detonates the missile at a certain distance from the target, causing a cloud of fragments to hit and destroy it.
Reliability

The reliability of the missile, as well as its ability to function in a variety of environmental conditions, is essential for its effectiveness in combat.
Electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM)

The missile's capability to resist enemy countermeasures like jamming and deception is crucial for maintaining its ability to track and destroy targets.
Compatibility with aircraft

The missile should be compatible with various types of aircraft, both in terms of its physical dimensions and its integration with the aircraft's systems.
Cost-effectiveness

The cost of the missile, as well as its maintenance and support requirements, should be considered in relation to its performance and effectiveness. An advanced air-to-air missile that is too expensive or difficult to maintain may not be practical for widespread use.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most advanced air-to-air missile. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or missile is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

1448 views
184 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each missile once every 24 hours. The rank of each missile is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

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More information on most advanced air-to-air missile

Air-to-air missiles are a crucial component of modern military aircraft, providing a means of engaging enemy aircraft at long ranges. These missiles are typically guided by radar or infrared sensors, allowing them to track and target enemy planes with great accuracy. In recent years, the development of advanced air-to-air missiles has become a major focus for many countries' defense industries. These missiles are designed to be highly maneuverable, capable of engaging targets at extremely long ranges, and able to evade countermeasures such as radar jamming and decoys. One of the most advanced air-to-air missiles currently in use is the AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile), which is used by the United States and several other countries. This missile has a range of over 100 miles and is capable of engaging multiple targets simultaneously, thanks to its sophisticated guidance system. Other notable examples of advanced air-to-air missiles include the Meteor missile, developed by Europe's MBDA, and the PL-15 missile, developed by China. These missiles represent the cutting edge of air-to-air missile technology, and are likely to play a critical role in future conflicts.