Rolling Airframe Missle

Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) is a lightweight, quick-reaction, high-firepower surface-to-air missile. It is part of the RAM weapon system, composed of a short-range missile and a 10 or 21-round launcher, to defend against anti-ship cruise missiles. The 5-inch RAM uses the Sidewinder fuse, warhead, and rocket motor, along with the IR seeker from the FIM-92 Stinger. Using a unique rolling airframe concept, the missile maneuvers to its target at supersonic speed. The rolling airframe approach, using two canard controls, reduces the quantity of guidance and control channels, thereby facilitating packaging, reducing weight and lowering unit production cost. RAM was co-developed and is co-produced by the United States and Germany, under a cooperative agreement between the U.S. and German governments. The missile is currently in production at Hughes Missile Systems Company's plant site in Tucson, Arizona, and also in Germany by a consortium of Germany companies known as RAMSYS. The RAM weapon system is used by the U.S. and Germany, and it was initially deployed in 1993.

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