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 | |
| Weight | 166kg (366lbs) |
| Propellant |
|
Operational range |
|
| Speed | Mach 4.5 |
Guidance system |
|
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% success 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.