AAir defence
RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile
small, lightweight, infrared homing surface-to-air missile in use
FORCETALLY
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AAir defence
small, lightweight, infrared homing surface-to-air missile in use
BAir defence
series of surface-to-air anti-ballistic missile and anti-aircraft defense systems
At a glance
Measured figures
Length
Disputedmissile
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile | Sky Bow |
|---|---|---|
| Type | SAM -based CIWS[source] | series of surface-to-air anti-ballistic missile and anti-aircraft defense systems[source] |
| Place of origin | Germany and United States[source] | — |
| In service | 1992–present[source] | The TK-2, TK-3 and TK-4 are in service with the Military of the Republic of China[source] |
| Used by | § Operators[source] | Military of the Republic of China |
2.79 m (9 ft 2 in) (missile)[source]
Length: 2.79 m (9 ft 2 in)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics · Length: 2.79 m (9 ft 2 in)
Length: 9.3 ft (2.83 m)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics · Length: 9.3 ft (2.83 m)
Length: 9.45 ft (2.88 m)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics · Length: 9.45 ft (2.88 m)
Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Length
Single sourceSky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Length
Single source5.673 m[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited
5.498 m[source]Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited
Block 1 missile
Single sourceBlock 2 missile
Single sourceDiameter
Disputed127 mm (5 in) (Block 1 missile) 159 mm (6.25 in) (Block 2 missile)[source]
Diameter: 127 mm (5.0 in)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics · Diameter: 127 mm (5.0 in)
Diameter: 5 in (12.70 cm)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics · Diameter: 5 in (12.70 cm)
Diameter: 6.25 in (15.88 cm)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics · Diameter: 6.25 in (15.88 cm)
Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Diameter
Single sourceSky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Diameter
Single sourcelauncher
Single sourcemissile
Single sourceWeight
Disputed5,777 kg (12,736 lb ) (launcher) 73.5 kilograms (162 lb 1 oz) (missile)[source]
Weight: 164 lb (74.4 kg)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics · Weight: 164 lb (74.4 kg)
Weight: 194.4 lb (88.2 kg)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics · Weight: 194.4 lb (88.2 kg)
Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Mass
Single sourceSky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Mass
Single sourceMaximum; In excess of Mach 2 (
Single sourceMaximum; Maximum speed
Single sourceIn excess of Mach 2 (1,500 mph ; 2,500 km/h )[source]
Operational; Operational range
Single sourceRange
Single source9 km (5.6 mi)[source]
Range: 10 km (6.2 mi)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics · Range: 10 km (6.2 mi)
Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Range
Single sourceSky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Range
Single sourceBars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| Designer | General Dynamics (now Raytheon ) and Diehl BGT Defence[source] | — |
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| Designed | 1976[source] | — |
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| Manufacturer | General Dynamics (now Raytheon) and Diehl Defence[source] | National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST)[source] |
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| Unit cost | US$998,000 (FY2014) US$905,330 (FY2021) (average)[source] | — |
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| Produced | 1985–present[source] | — |
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| Variants | § Variants[source] | — |
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| Warhead | Blast fragmentation warhead[source] | — |
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| Engine | Hercules/Bermite Mk. 36 solid-fuel rocket[source] | — |
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| Propellant | Solid[source] | — |
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| Guidance system | Three modes: passive radio frequency/infrared homing, infrared only, or infrared dual mode enabled (radio frequency and infrared homing)[source] | — |
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| Accuracy | Over 95%[source] | — |
|---|
| Launch platform | Mk 144 Guided Missile Launcher (GML) of the Mk 49 Guided Missile Launching System (GMLS)[source] | Underground silos and mobile launch vehicles[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited Towed quad launchers[source]Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited |
|---|
| Role | small, lightweight, infrared homing surface-to-air missile in use[source] | surface-to-air missile[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited surface-to-air missile[source]Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited |
|---|
| Source measurement | 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) and stores 21 missiles. The original weapon cannot employ its own sensors prior to firing, so it must be integrated with a ship's combat system, which directs the launcher at targets. On U.S. ships, it is integrated with the AN/SWY-2 Ship Defense Surface Missile System (SDSMS) and Ship Self-Defense System (SSDS) Mk 1 or Mk 2-based combat systems. SeaRAM, a launcher variant equipped with independent sensors derived from the Vulcan Phalanx CIWS , is being installed on Independence-class littoral combat ships and certain Arleigh Burke -class destroyers .[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The Block 2 (RIM-116C) is an upgraded version of the RAM missile aimed at more effectively countering more maneuverable anti-ship missiles through a four-axis independent control actuator system, increased rocket motor capability to 15.8 cm (6.25–inch) diameter, an improved passive radio frequency seeker and upgraded components of the infrared seeker, and advanced kinematics. On 8 May 2007, the U.S. Navy awarded Raytheon Missile Systems a $105 million development contract. Development was expected to be completed by December 2010. LRIP began in 2012.[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · Variants / Block 2; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Length: 2.79 m (9 ft 2 in)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Diameter: 127 mm (5.0 in)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Fin span: 434 mm (1 ft 5.1 in)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Warhead: 11.3 kg (24.9 lb) blast fragmentation with 7.9 lb (3.6 kg) High-Explosive[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Launch weight: 73.5 kg (162 lb)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Range: 10 km (6.2 mi)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Length: 9.3 ft (2.83 m)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Diameter: 5 in (12.70 cm)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Wingspan: 17.5 in (44.45 cm)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Weight: 164 lb (74.4 kg)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Length: 9.45 ft (2.88 m)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Diameter: 6.25 in (15.88 cm)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Wingspan: 12.65 in (32.13 cm)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Weight: 194.4 lb (88.2 kg)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage | — |
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| Launch weight | Launch weight: 73.5 kg (162 lb)[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics · Launch weight: 73.5 kg (162 lb) | — |
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| Propulsion | — | Single-stage dual-thrust solid-fuel rocket motor[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited Solid-fuel rocket motor[source]Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited |
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| Guidance | — | Inertial with mid-course guidance update from ground-based phased array radar, Active radar homing ( ARH ) for terminal guidance[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited |
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| Introduced | — | 1997[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited |
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| Country of origin | — | Taiwan[source]Inventory Origin column; table 5, row 4, cell 2; revision 1370505017; retrieved 2026-09-30 |
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| Reported operators |
| — |
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0.42 m[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited
0.4 m[source]Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited