Have Dash

Have Dash I was a classified project to develop an air-to-air missile for use by stealth aircraft.[1] The concept, developed by the USAF Armament Laboratory between 1985 and 1988,[2] was extensively studied but failed to produce any flying hardware.[3]

Have Dash II, initiated in 1990, was a renewed effort to develop a stealthy air-to-air missile, intended to be used by the Advanced Tactical Fighter – the YF-22 and YF-23 – and to replace the AIM-120 AMRAAM in service.[1]

Have Dash II was designed with a composite body, trapezoidal in shape. This was intended both to reduce the missile's radar-cross-section[3] and to resist heat at hypersonic speeds, as the missile was intended to operate at Mach 5.[1] The body shape also allowed flush external carriage aboard the launching aircraft, and provided aerodynamic lift, making the missile more maneuverable.[3]

The prototype Have Dash II missiles were recoverable,[1] and utilised Rocketdyne Mk 58 solid-fueled rocket motors of the same type used by the AIM-7 Sparrow.[3][4] Production missiles were expected to be powered by a ramjet engine,[1] and would use inertial navigation during the cruise phase of flight, with a dual-mode infrared/active radar seeker head for terminal guidance.[3]

Flight testing of the prototype Have Dash II missiles was expected to begin in 1992;[1] it appears that the testing was conducted, with the missile being considered for further testing of advanced air-to-air missile concepts.[2] However, no results of the test firings have been declassified, and no subsequent developments to the program have been reported.[3]