Rafael SkySting AAM

[Big_Zukini]

In 2023 Israeli company Rafael unveiled the SkySting. First named SkySpear but quickly renamed.

Product page here.

Rafael makes several claims:

1. It's a 6th gen missile.
2. Leap in RF seeker capabilities.
3. 3 pulse motor instead of 2 pulse.
4. Significant range increase (and "very long range").
5. Extra aerodynamic lift(?)
   1. Could be me misreading it.
6. Short range and long range suitability.

I'm going to make a bit of a leap here, but "recently" Rafael updated their Spyder (link) brochure with an XR variant. They don't show the MFU where they otherwise show all variants, and the graphic just shows a generic MR MFU upscaled. I have not heard of any I-Derby-ER advancements, nor anything about a different 1st stage booster. Only in 2021 Rafael presented an improved Derby with 100km intercept range. Therefore I'm assuming the XR might be the SkySting.



I also know the IAF at least tested an air launched Stunner missile.



What I'm wondering about is how the SkySting achieved its characteristics, why was the Stunner AAM seemingly abandoned, and generally about AAMs today.
Stunner is a hit to kill missile. On SkySting's page we hear nothing about the kill mechanism. The word "warhead" is not mentioned, nor "kinetic" or "hit to kill".

In the image below I don't see any strakes that could increase its lift. Instead it has 3 sets of 4 fins. Minor departure from the Derby's long tail fins into a pair of smaller ones.
I guess their drag could be reduced via clever flight path. So the main range improvement must come from the different motor. But it still doesn't sit well with the present vector to remove control surfaces.

1. What does it mean to switch from 2 pulse to 3 pulse motor (in similar form factor)?
   1. Is it easy? Or does it require certain tech that makes it more expensive?
   2. What are its drawbacks?
2. What could the SkySting's underbody protrusion be?
   1. It runs nearly along the entire body but it doesn't seem to have an opening.
   2. Could it indicate motor length?
3. Stunner has a combined RF+EO seeker. SkySting only has RF seeker.
   1. Is there a known inherent issue with combined seekers?
   2. Rafael's advertising "hit before enemy can launch" indicates high speed. Could that be a limiting factor for EO?

 

[Dilandu]

Extra aerodynamic lift(?)

Presumably it means that larger part of missile weight is supported by aerodynamic lift, instead of engine?

 

[Colonial-Marine]

I'm not too knowledgeable on most of these more recent Israeli missiles but isn't the Stunner missile itself more-or-less SARH guidance with the added EO/IIR seeker? There is a great deal of advanced data-linking beyond that, but it still has no active-radar seeker of its own as far as I know.

SkyString in comparison I'm sure would have an active-radar seeker as it's kind of the standard for this class of AAM. It looks like they want it to be a direct competitor to AMRAAM in most ways.

It's just speculation on my part but I think having an active-radar seeker with an EO or IIR seeker in the nose has proven very difficult to do, at least on an AAM. We've seen some SARH missiles like the AIM-7R with that layout, but I can't think of any active-radar ones. Some missiles like variants of the SM-2 have an IR seeker located on the side of the missile, but this might not be feasible in the smaller volume of a medium-range AAM.