C-120 Rapier

C-120 Rapier
C-170 Rapier II LRAAM
Type	Beyond-Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM)
Place of origin	Inyursta
Service history
In service	2004-present
Used by	Inyurstan Air Force Inyurstan Navy
Production history
Designer	Navayelle Systems
Designed	2001
Manufacturer	Navayelle Systems
Produced	2003-present
Specifications
Propellant	Two-Stage Solid Fuel Propellant (C-120) Two-Stage Air-Breathing Ramjet (C-170)
Operational range	>120km > 170km (C-170 Rapier II)
Speed	Mach 4.5
Guidance system	Active Radar Active Radar with Infrared Terminal Guidance (C-120M & C-170 models) Passive Radar

The C-120 Rapier and C-170 Rapier II are a family of Medium and Long-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (BVRAAM) produced by Inyursta. It was originally planned as an indigenous BVRAAM to supplement and eventually replace the AIM-120A in service with Inyurstan fighters. Later models have been designed to combat modern enemy fighters at long ranges.

Design

The C-120 features a longer, extended warhead rather than a wider or fatter one, like those found on the R-27 or AIM-54; for improved aerodynamic performance. A total of twelve different control surfaces paired with a thrust-vectoring engine nozzle give the missile outstanding maneuverability for a BVR-class weapon.

Early production C-120 models carried an active X-band radar seeker with "slave mode" capability from a friendly fighter or AWACS as well as home-on-jam features. Developing Inyurstan air-to-air doctrine stressed the utilization of multiple guidance types, and this capability came in the form of C-120M & C-120M2 which incorporated a terminal infrared mode in addition to the standard active radar guidance. The C-120M2-P replaces this capability with a passive radar seeker - effectively making it an air-to-air Anti-Radiation Missile (ARM) - for use against early warning and jamming aircraft.

Service History

The first C-129 models entered service during the height of the Lolloh-Ruolnik Conflict where it saw a large amount of combat service. Active radar warheads on the intial batch delivered were faulty, and had around a 60% sucess rate across all ranges, not factoring in enemy evasive action or target type. Lessons about BVR combat learned in the Lolloh-Ruol War lead to rapid development and procurement of improved models.

C-120 and C-120M were both used in the Greco-Bulgarian War to moderate sucess, although a in much more target-deprived environment and against a much more competent caliber of foe.

When Chief of Staff Antonio DeLoroza took office in 2014, he almost immediately wrote a notice to the Legislative Assembly requesting more funding for C-120 upgrades.

Variants

C-120 Rapier: Standard model produced 2003 - 2012.

C-120M: Active Radar paired with Terminal Infrared Guidance. Produced 2009 - Present.

C-120M2: Features enhanced composite material fins for greater maneuverability.

C-120M2-P: Anti-Radiation variant of the C-120M2.

C-170 Rapier II: Improved model featuring ramjet propulsion and an AESA radar seeker with terminal IR guidance. Produced 2015 - Present.