Zephyr Net

The AIM-7R was projected in the early 1990s as an improved AIM-7P Block II. A new dual mode (Radar/IR) seeker was developed under the MHIP (Missile Homing Improvement Program) to improve the terminal phase performance. It also had a considerably improved on-board computer for the higher processing requirements of active terminal homing. An equivalent ship-launched version was projected as RIM-7R. Although it was initially planned to upgrade many AIM/RIM-7M/P rounds to AIM/RIM-7R standard, the -7R program was cancelled because of high costs in December 1996 after the evaluation phase was completed. The MHIP seeker was also used in the RIM-66M-5 SM-2 Block III B missile.