The US Navy has awarded Raytheon a $1.1 billion contract modification to manufacture more than 1,900 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II missiles for the US military and international partners. The order includes 1,653 missiles to replenish US inventories and 336 missiles for foreign military sales customers, along with 156 AIM-9X-4 captive air training missiles, 16 special air training missiles, and 10 captive test missiles. Production will primarily take place in Tucson, Arizona, with completion scheduled for September 2029.
The AIM-9X Sidewinder is a combat-proven, infrared-guided short-range missile designed for both air-to-air and surface-to-air missions. It is compatible with platforms including the F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Super Hornet, E/A-18G Growler, F-22 Raptor, and all F-35 variants, while also serving as a short-range interceptor within the NASAMS air defense system. The Block II version features an upgraded fuze, digital ignition safety device, enhanced electronics, thrust-vector control for improved maneuverability, and a lock-on-after-launch capability enabled by a datalink for beyond-visual-range engagements.
