RTX business Raytheon is speeding production of its AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles in response to increased demand from the U.S. Air Force and Navy, which serve as the contracting agencies for all domestic and international sales. The increase in part reflects the large number of recent F-35 sales.
Whereas previous annual production rates varied considerably, the demand for both missile types has settled into a new, higher rate that is likely to remain steady for the next few years. For the AIM-120, the U.S. Program of Record expires with Lot 42 in around six years’ time. After that, production will be for foreign military sales customers in the absence of follow-on domestic orders.
Currently, AIM-120 production is for Lot 36, with 1,160 missiles on order, requiring RTX to increase its production rate to a nominal 1,200 missiles per year. A shift to building only the latest AIM-120C8 and D3 versions facilitated the ramp-up.
AMRAAM is subject to continuous development, with the focus now on an extended-range version, of which about 600 have gone to Qatar. The AMRAAM-ER (extended range) is a surface-launched version for use with the NASAMS launcher, combining the AIM-120C-8 front end with a larger 10-inch diameter rocket motor from partner Nammo in conjunction with Kongsberg. The first test-fire took place at Andøya in Norway in February.
RTX has studied an air-launched version using the AIM-120D-3 front end and briefed the concept to the U.S. Air Force and Navy. The ER weapon fits inside the internal bays of the F-22 and F-35 fighters and could provide significantly increased range and intercept speed when fired from the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornets.
Meanwhile, AIM-9X production stands at 1,400 per year, but is rising to 2,500 by Lot 25 (2025) and could grow further. The missile is in use with U.S. services and 32 international customers, including the Czech Republic—the latest country to order the weapon for its F-35s. RTX is looking for a third rocket motor supplier to cater to expected future demand.
RTX’s other main air-launched weapon program, the GBU-53 StormBreaker, also is progressing well. Last year the F-35 integration trials effort involved 14 launches, all of which proved successful. Plans call for the weapon to achieve initial operating capability with the Navy’s Super Hornets before the end of the year. The GBU-53 (formerly Small Diameter Bomb II) is a network-enabled precision strike weapon with an advanced triple-seeker (millimeter-wave radar, imaging infrared, laser designation). The F-35 can carry up to eight of them in its internal bays, and it already operates on the F-15E Strike Eagle.