Certification Scheduled for Completion Late June

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) began the certification campaign for integration of the Rafael PYTHON-4 training missile on its F-5EM combat aircraft in March and expects to complete it by late June. The activities are being coordinated by the Aerospace Science and Technology Department (DCTA), the Aeronautics and Space Institute (IAE), the Industrial Development Institute (IFI) and the Investigation and Flight Test Institute (IPEV).

The PYTHON-4 training missile replicates the characteristics of the warshot missile, but only the seeker/guidance head operates in an identical manner. The system’s capacity for Autonomous Air Combat Manoeuvring Instrumentation (AACMI) operation is of great use in debriefing pilots after training serials, increasing the realism of the training and enhancing the capacity for skills retention.