Navy asks Raytheon for 2,000 AIM-9X infrared-guided air-to-air missiles for U.S. and allied combat jets
PATUXENT RIVER NAS, Md. – U.S. Navy aerial warfare experts are asking Raytheon Technologies Corp. (RTX) to prepare to build nearly 2,000 new infrared-guided air-to-air missiles for the Navy, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. allies under terms of a $1.1 billion order announce earlier this month.
Officials of the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., are asking the RTX Raytheon segment in Tucson, Ariz., to build lot 25 of the AIM-9X air-to-air missile.
The AIM-9X is an infrared-guided heat-seeking missile that equips most jet fighters, fighter-bombers, and other offensive combat aircraft in the U.S. arsenal, and is for shooting down enemy aircraft close-by. The AIM-9X works by homing in on an enemy aircraft's hot engine exhaust. Variants of the AIM-9 Sidewinder have been deployed since the 1950s.
Details of the order
AIM-9X lot 25 includes 1,756 AIM-9X-4 Block II missiles -- 492 for the Navy, 456 for the Air Force, and 808 for U.S. allies; 242 AIM-9X-5 Block II+ missiles for U.S. allies; 187 captive air training missiles -- 40 for the Navy, 62 for the Air Force, and 85 for allies); 13 special air training missiles -- five for the Air Force and eight for allies); six data air test missiles for allies; 30 multi-purpose training missile for allies; eight Block I tactical sectionalization kits for the Air Force; seven Block I sectionalization kits for the Air Force; 33 Block II tactical sectionalization kits -- 21 for the Navy, eight for the Air Force, and four for allies); 34 Block II sectionalization kits -- 24 for the Navy, six for the Air Force, and four for allies; 31 block ii tactical maintenance kits -- 30 for the Navy and one for allies); 28 block II maintenance kits -- 27 for the Air Force and one for allies, as well as spare parts, containers, and support equipment.
The AIM-9X is among the latest versions of the AIM-9 missile family. It entered service in 2003 on the Navy F/A-18C Hornet fighter-bomber and on the U.S. Air Force F-15C jet fighter. It has an imaging infrared focal plane array seeker with 90-degree off-boresight capability for accuracy.
The missile is compatible with helmet-mounted displays such as the U.S. Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System, and features 3-D thrust-vectoring control for increased turn capability. The AIM-9X also includes an internal cooling system.
The latest versions of the AIM-9X are called the AIM-9X Block II and AIM-9X Block II-plus. This newest version has lock-on after launch capability for use with the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter and the F-22 Raptor advanced tactical fighter.
The AIM-9X Block II-plus features specialized external materials to enhance aircraft survivability for the F-35. Until another version of the AIM-9X is developed that will fit inside the F-35's enclosed weapons bay, the AIM-9X Block II-plus has stealthy coatings and structures to help reduce the missile's radar cross-section when the F-35 carries these missiles externally.
On this order, RTX Raytheon will do the work in Tucson, Ariz.; North Logan, Utah; Niles, Ill.; Keyser, W.Va.; Hillsboro, Ore.; Midland, Ontario; Heilbronn, Germany; Goleta, Anaheim, Murrieta, Valencia, San Diego, and San Jose, Calif; Simsbury, Conn.; ; Minneapolis; Kalispell, Mont.; St. Albans, Vt; Anniston, Ala.; Cincinnati; and other U.S. locations, and should be finished by October 2028.
For more information contact RTX Raytheon online at www.rtx.com/raytheon/what-we-do/sea/aim-9x-sidewinder-missile, or Naval Air Systems Command at www.navair.navy.mil.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
