U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor Fires Longest-Ever Air-To-Air Missile Shot Redefining Its Strike Envelope
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On 16 September 2025, RTX announced through Raytheon that the U.S. Air Force had successfully conducted the longest known AIM-120 AMRAAM shot during trials at Eglin Air Force Base. The test, carried out in the fall of 2024 on an F-22 Raptor, validated an extended flight profile for the missile and confirmed that new upgrades under the Form, Fit, Function Refresh (F3R) program are pushing the weapon beyond its previous performance benchmarks. This development is significant at a time when the United States and its allies face increasing challenges from near-peer competitors and a rapidly evolving aerial threat environment.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The record-breaking test conducted from an F-22 Raptor confirms that AMRAAM remains at the center of U.S. and allied airpower strategy (Picture source: U.S. Air Force)
The AIM-120 AMRAAM, in service for more than three decades, remains a central pillar of Western air superiority. Designed as a beyond-visual-range, active radar-guided missile, it has been deployed by the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and 43 allied nations across 14 different platforms. With more than 6,000 successful firings and proven combat effectiveness, AMRAAM has become synonymous with reliable air dominance. The D-3 variant tested on the F-22 incorporates the F3R modernization package, extending its time of flight and range potential. Although exact figures remain classified, open-source estimates already place the AIM-120D envelope around 160–180 km, and the latest demonstration suggests that the upgraded missile has surpassed this threshold under optimal conditions.
Operationally, the AMRAAM’s evolution reflects decades of iterative development driven by lessons from conflicts and the steady modernization of adversary air capabilities. From the Gulf War to recent engagements, it has remained a proven system, and the D-series continues this trajectory by enhancing propulsion, guidance, and electronic counter-countermeasures. Compared to legacy systems such as the AIM-7 Sparrow or even Russia’s R-77, AMRAAM represents a leap in adaptability and network-centric integration. Historically, just as the transition from Sparrow to AMRAAM defined a generational shift, the D-3 variant underscores a new chapter where extended-range performance is becoming a decisive factor.
The advantages of this record test are both tactical and strategic. In purely technical terms, longer engagement ranges expand the survivability of fifth-generation fighters like the F-22 and F-35, enabling them to strike before entering hostile missile envelopes. In comparison with emerging competitors such as China’s PL-15 or Russia’s R-37M, the improved AMRAAM maintains Western credibility in the race for extended-range intercepts. Strategically, the demonstration highlights the U.S. intent to preserve its air dominance edge, especially in the Indo-Pacific where long-range engagements are expected to define future air combat scenarios. Geopolitically, the news sends a message of deterrence at a time when adversaries are showcasing their own long-reach weapons.
AMRAAM remains one of Raytheon’s most important programs, supported by consistent U.S. Department of War contracts and foreign military sales. In 2024, the U.S. Air Force awarded Raytheon additional funding to sustain production under the F3R line, ensuring compatibility with current and future platforms. The missile’s export success continues, with recent contracts supplied to European NATO allies and Indo-Pacific partners. This ongoing demand not only supports the modernization of allied inventories but also secures economies of scale for production, reinforcing AMRAAM’s place as the most widely fielded medium-range air-to-air missile in the Western arsenal.
The record-breaking test conducted from an F-22 Raptor confirms that AMRAAM remains at the center of U.S. and allied airpower strategy. By pushing beyond previously acknowledged range limits, Raytheon and the U.S. Air Force have demonstrated that the missile is not only relevant but also continuously evolving to counter emerging threats. This milestone underscores how technological refresh programs, sustained budgets, and operational testing combine to ensure that one of the world’s most combat-proven missiles will continue to shape the balance of airpower for years to come.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.
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On 16 September 2025, RTX announced through Raytheon that the U.S. Air Force had successfully conducted the longest known AIM-120 AMRAAM shot during trials at Eglin Air Force Base. The test, carried out in the fall of 2024 on an F-22 Raptor, validated an extended flight profile for the missile and confirmed that new upgrades under the Form, Fit, Function Refresh (F3R) program are pushing the weapon beyond its previous performance benchmarks. This development is significant at a time when the United States and its allies face increasing challenges from near-peer competitors and a rapidly evolving aerial threat environment.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The record-breaking test conducted from an F-22 Raptor confirms that AMRAAM remains at the center of U.S. and allied airpower strategy (Picture source: U.S. Air Force)
The AIM-120 AMRAAM, in service for more than three decades, remains a central pillar of Western air superiority. Designed as a beyond-visual-range, active radar-guided missile, it has been deployed by the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and 43 allied nations across 14 different platforms. With more than 6,000 successful firings and proven combat effectiveness, AMRAAM has become synonymous with reliable air dominance. The D-3 variant tested on the F-22 incorporates the F3R modernization package, extending its time of flight and range potential. Although exact figures remain classified, open-source estimates already place the AIM-120D envelope around 160–180 km, and the latest demonstration suggests that the upgraded missile has surpassed this threshold under optimal conditions.
Operationally, the AMRAAM’s evolution reflects decades of iterative development driven by lessons from conflicts and the steady modernization of adversary air capabilities. From the Gulf War to recent engagements, it has remained a proven system, and the D-series continues this trajectory by enhancing propulsion, guidance, and electronic counter-countermeasures. Compared to legacy systems such as the AIM-7 Sparrow or even Russia’s R-77, AMRAAM represents a leap in adaptability and network-centric integration. Historically, just as the transition from Sparrow to AMRAAM defined a generational shift, the D-3 variant underscores a new chapter where extended-range performance is becoming a decisive factor.
The advantages of this record test are both tactical and strategic. In purely technical terms, longer engagement ranges expand the survivability of fifth-generation fighters like the F-22 and F-35, enabling them to strike before entering hostile missile envelopes. In comparison with emerging competitors such as China’s PL-15 or Russia’s R-37M, the improved AMRAAM maintains Western credibility in the race for extended-range intercepts. Strategically, the demonstration highlights the U.S. intent to preserve its air dominance edge, especially in the Indo-Pacific where long-range engagements are expected to define future air combat scenarios. Geopolitically, the news sends a message of deterrence at a time when adversaries are showcasing their own long-reach weapons.
AMRAAM remains one of Raytheon’s most important programs, supported by consistent U.S. Department of War contracts and foreign military sales. In 2024, the U.S. Air Force awarded Raytheon additional funding to sustain production under the F3R line, ensuring compatibility with current and future platforms. The missile’s export success continues, with recent contracts supplied to European NATO allies and Indo-Pacific partners. This ongoing demand not only supports the modernization of allied inventories but also secures economies of scale for production, reinforcing AMRAAM’s place as the most widely fielded medium-range air-to-air missile in the Western arsenal.
The record-breaking test conducted from an F-22 Raptor confirms that AMRAAM remains at the center of U.S. and allied airpower strategy. By pushing beyond previously acknowledged range limits, Raytheon and the U.S. Air Force have demonstrated that the missile is not only relevant but also continuously evolving to counter emerging threats. This milestone underscores how technological refresh programs, sustained budgets, and operational testing combine to ensure that one of the world’s most combat-proven missiles will continue to shape the balance of airpower for years to come.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.
