RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile

Rare card · No. 49910

The RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) is a small, lightweight, infrared homing surface-to-air missile in use by the German, Japanese, Greek, Turkish, South Korean, Saudi Arabian, Egyptian, Mexican, UAE, and United States navies. It was originally intended and used primarily as a point-defense weapon against anti-ship missiles. As its name indicates, the RAM rolls as it flies. The missile's radio-frequency tracking system uses a two-antenna interferometer that can measure phase interference of electromagnetic waves in one plane only; constant rolling allows the missile to scan in all directions. The rolling means only one pair of steering canards is required. As of 2005, it is the only U.S. Navy missile to operate in this manner. The Rolling Airframe Missiles, together with the Mark 49 Guided Missile Launching System (GMLS) and support equipment, make up the RAM Mk 31 Guided Missile Weapon System (GMWS). The Mk-144 Guided Missile Launcher (GML) unit weighs 5,777 kilograms (12,736 lb...

Read on Wikipedia · Image U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gary Granger Jr., Public domain