AIM-7X Lightning Air Interception Missile

AIM stands for Air Interception Missile.

Credit goes to Triton Aerospace for allowing the use and modification of his guidance computer, as well to Alpha Space Technologies for developing the missile itself.

Top speed*: Mach 4.082 (1400 m/s)

Minimum Cruise speed: Mach 2.332 (800 m/s)

Max altitude: 15000m

Max effective altitude: 10000m

Best operating altitude: 2000m - 6000m

Turn radius: usually tops out at 20° in tests but leads very well and can pull more if needed.

Frontal aspect range: 500km

Rear aspect range: likely between 100 to 200km, although low relative velocity due to airspeed management may be a limiting factor.

Probability of hit: 90%

Probability of kill: 75% (not the most accurate missile in the world, but its acceptable, and features a rather powerful warhead)

Insta-kill Blast radius: 15m

Effective Blast radius: up to 25m

features 100% reliable fail-safe proximity fuse

can be used against evading maneuvering targets, up to around 8000m to 10000m (above that, the extremely thin air severely limits the missiles maneuvering capabilities).

Has off-boresight capabilities when launched below mach 1.5 and ~10km away from target

Length: 4.8 meters (very large missile with enormous tinkered wings, Weight and lift balance is crucial when flying)

Weight (wet/dry): 228kg/~100kg

The AIM-7X is the first majorly successful air to air missile developed by Alpha Space Technologies. In partnership with Triton Aerospace (for development, mentoring, and guidance code licensing) and Beacon Industries (investor and proud customer of the weapon), the AIM-7X was created to allow for simple, effective, fire and forget capability at short, medium and ultra long ranges, with good accuracy. This capability is especially crucial to Beacon Industries, who invested in the missile as part of their F-104BI Prototype, which needed an all aspect, Interception Missile that could be used at medium ranges, but could be stretched to be fired whenever needed. Because of its versatility, a jet would be able to carry only AIM-7X's and still be able to stay on the offense no matter the situation, whether it be BVR, close range combat, emergency Interception, or any other combat scenarios. On top of that, it features an airspeed autopilot, dubbed the Airspeed Management System (AMS), that actively tracks the speed of the target, and adjusts the missile's velocity accordingly, allowing the missile to close in on the target without going too fast, relatively.

Despite its revolutionary advantages and innovative capability, that is not to say it does not have any downsides. In fact, there is one. And its a big one. Literally. This missile is massive, at 4.8 meters in length and weighing 228kg at full fuel, this missile is quite heavy, and with extremely large wings (that were tinkered down to avoid a logistical nightmare), it is extremely important to prioritize weight and balance for any jet that carries this missile. Otherwise, your craft roll and oscillate, sometimes severely. As one drood famously said: "With great power, comes great rolling to the side to cancel the lift that the missile generates when turning (which may throw your aircraft off balance) so you dont roll out of control."

Despite these shortcomings, the AIM-7X is a versatile, capable, football field sized weapon that will make your enemies think twice about looking at you wrong.

*Features airspeed management to closely match enemy fighters speed and increase fuel efficiency and maneuvering time response. This means the AIM-7X will most likely be travelling at sub-Mach 4 speeds, which improves fuel efficiency, range, and Maneuverability.