Raytheon (now RTX) unveiled the Peregrine in 2019 as a next-generation, medium-range air-to-air missile. It is designed as a small, fast, and lightweight weapon roughly half the size and cost of the AIM-120 AMRAAM, aiming to allow fighter jets to carry more weapons.
Key Details of the Peregrine Missile
- Size & Weight: Approximately 6 feet long and weighs just over 150 lbs, designed to fit on 4th and 5th generation fighter pylons and in F-35 weapon bays.
- Purpose: Designed to counter drones, manned aircraft, and cruise missiles with greater maneuverability than existing systems.
- Performance: Uses a "multi-mode autonomous seeker" and "advanced solid rocket propulsion" to achieve superior performance.
- Development: Developed with internal company funding rather than a direct, specific government contract.
It is important to differentiate this from the MC-55A Peregrine, an electronic warfare aircraft used by the Australian Defence Force, which is a completely separate entity.
