福特宇航公司正在为美国未来的隐身飞机制造3枚高机动但外形异于常规的试验用空空导弹。 20年之后,隐身飞机将主要装备诸如新型先进中程空空导弹(AMRAAM)之类的常规武器。由于外挂导弹气动阻力大,雷达反射信号强,这些武器必须装在飞机内部。但隐身飞机内部容积小,这就限制了它们的载弹能力,例如,在入侵巴拿马的战斗中,洛克希德公司的F-117A战斗机每次只能投掷一枚炸弹。 Ford Aerospace is building three highly mobile, yet unmanned, test-to-air missiles for the future of stealthy U.S. aircraft. Twenty years later, the stealth aircraft will be primarily equipped with conventional weapons such as the new Advanced Medium Range Missile (AMRAAM). Due to the large aerodynamic drag of the external missile and the strong radar reflection signals, these weapons must be installed inside the aircraft. However, the small internal volumes of stealth aircraft limit their payload capabilities. For example, the Lockheed F-117A fighter can only throw one at a time during the invasion of Panama.