RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile

RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gary Granger Jr. · Public domain · source
Name	RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile
Caption	A RIM-116 launching from the USS Princeton (CG-59).
Type	Surface-to-air missile
Origin	United States / Germany
Used by	See #Operators
Designer	General Dynamics / Raytheon / Diehl Defence
Production date	1992–present
Service	1992–present
Engine	Solid-fuel rocket
Length	2.79 m
Diameter	127 mm
Speed	Supersonic
Vehicle range	9 km
Guidance	Dual-mode: Passive radar homing & Infrared homing
Warhead	Blast-fragmentation
Launch platform	Mark 49 Guided Missile Launcher

RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) is a lightweight, quick-reaction surface-to-air missile system designed to defend naval vessels against advanced anti-ship missiles and aircraft. Developed through an international partnership between the United States and Germany, it employs a unique rolling airframe and dual-mode seeker for terminal guidance. The system is a key component of the Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) aboard numerous classes of warships worldwide.

Development and design

The program originated in the late 1970s as a collaborative effort between General Dynamics in the United States and several West German firms, later consolidated under Diehl Defence. The primary goal was to create a low-cost, "fire-and-forget" point-defense weapon to counter the threat posed by Soviet-era anti-ship missiles. Its innovative design features a body that rolls in flight, which simplifies the guidance system by requiring control in only two planes. Initial guidance is provided by a passive radar homing seeker that locks onto the target's radar emissions, with a infrared homing seeker taking over for the terminal attack phase. The missile is typically launched from the Mark 49 Guided Missile Launcher, a lightweight, automated system that can be fitted to various ship classes, from littoral combat ships to aircraft carriers like the USS Nimitz.

Operational history

The RIM-116 entered service with the United States Navy in 1992, with initial operational capability on the USS Peleliu (LHA-5). It has since been deployed on a wide array of U.S. platforms, including Ticonderoga-class cruisers, Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, and Wasp-class amphibious assault ships. The system saw its first combat use during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, providing defensive coverage for coalition vessels in the Persian Gulf. It is a standard fit for the German Navy, installed on Sachsen-class frigates and Baden-Württemberg-class frigates, and has been integrated into the fleets of numerous allied nations. The RAM system is considered a critical last line of defense within a ship's layered air defense network.

Variants

The primary evolution of the system includes the **RIM-116A** (Block 0), which used a Sidewinder-derived seeker for infrared guidance only against specific targets. The **RIM-116B** (Block 1) introduced the fully functional dual-mode (RF/IR) seeker, significantly enhancing its capability against a broader threat spectrum. The latest iteration, the **RIM-116C** (Block 2), incorporates an upgraded infrared seeker, an improved rocket motor for greater range and maneuverability, and enhanced software to counter more sophisticated threats, including small asymmetric targets. Development of the system has been managed by the Raytheon Company following its acquisition of the missile division from General Dynamics.

Operators

* – United States Navy * – German Navy * – Republic of Korea Navy * – Hellenic Navy * – Egyptian Navy * – Turkish Naval Forces * – Royal Saudi Navy * – United Arab Emirates Navy * – Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (licensed production as the **Sea RAM**) * – Royal Australian Navy (for the Hobart-class destroyer)

Specifications

The RIM-116 is a compact missile, approximately 2.79 meters in length with a diameter of 127 millimeters. It is powered by a solid-fuel rocket motor, achieving supersonic speeds. The effective engagement range is approximately 9 kilometers. The warhead is a blast-fragmentation type, designed to destroy incoming threats with directed energy. The guidance system sequentially uses passive radar homing to initially steer towards a target's radar emissions before handing over to an infrared homing seeker for the final intercept. The entire weapon system, including the Mark 49 Guided Missile Launcher, is designed for high availability and rapid engagement with minimal crew intervention.

Category:Surface-to-air missiles of the United States Category:Surface-to-air missiles of Germany Category:Naval weapons of the United States