AIM-120 AMRAAM

The AIM-120 AMRAAM, an acronym for Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, is an American beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile capable of engaging enemy aircraft in all weather conditions, day or night, at distances well beyond visual range between the firing aircraft and its target. Unlike older air-to-air missiles that depend on their launching aircraft's radar to illuminate the target throughout the engagement, the AMRAAM carries its own active radar seeker in its nose, allowing the missile to find and track its target independently in its final approach and freeing the launching pilot to maneuver, engage other targets or leave the area immediately after firing, a launch-and-leave capability that NATO pilots communicate over radio using the brevity code Fox Three. Since entering service, the AMRAAM has become the standard beyond-visual-range air-to-air weapon of the United States and many allied air forces flying NATO-standard fighter aircraft.