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World Aviation Defense & Security Industry News - Raytheon
 
 
Raytheon lands $83 mn order for AIM-9X Block II missile production
 
Raytheon is being awarded $82,818,665 for procurement of 180 AIM-9X Block II full-rate production short-range air-to-air missiles, the US Department of Defense announced on June 14. Raytheon will provide 52 missiles to the US Air Force and eight for the US Navy. The contract also involves deliveries to the the governments of Poland (93); Indonesia (14); Romania (10); and Belgium (3).
     
Raytheon's AIM-9X Block II air-to-air missile
(Credit: Raytheon)
     
In addition, this order provides for the procurement of 19 captive air training Missiles for US Air Force (11); and the US Navy (8); 50 AIM-9X missile containers for the US Air Force (14); US Navy (1); US Marine Corps (1); and the governments of Poland (26); Indonesia (4); Romania (3); and Belgium (1); as well as three special air training missiles for the US Marine Corps’ Harrier program.

"Work is expected to be completed in March 2020. (...) The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity," the US DoD said.

The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a short-range air-to-air missile. It is one of the most widely used missiles, the AIM-9 equipping more than 40 Air Forces around the world.

While the AIM-9X features an imaging infrared focal-plane array (FPA) seeker with claimed 90° off-boresight capability, compatibility with helmet-mounted displays, the Block II adds Lock-on After Launch capability with a datalink, so the missile can be launched first and then directed to its target afterwards by an aircraft with the proper equipment for 360 degree engagements.