TUCSON, Ariz.---Raytheon Company has been awarded a $43 million firm fixed-price contract for low rate initial production (LRIP) of the AIM-9X next generation Sidewinder missile. This Lot 1 award includes 103 all-up-round missiles, 39 captive air training missiles, and other associated components.
"I am pleased to award this production contract since it initiates our production plan to deliver the world's best dogfight missile to the world's best fighter pilots," said Capt. David J. Venlet, the Naval Air Systems Command program manager for Air-to-Air Missiles. "The unprecedented success of the AIM-9X development effort gives me confidence that our forces will receive this highly capable and affordable weapon on time."
The initial aircraft to deploy the missile will be the F-15C and the F/A-18C/D. The Department of Defense plans to procure 10,097 missiles (5097 for the Air Force, 5000 for the Navy) during an 18-year production run.
"We at Raytheon Missile Systems are committed to deliver a high performance, affordable AIM-9X to our warfighters," said Charles D. Anderson, Raytheon vice president for Air-to-Air Missiles. "This commitment includes fixed price options for low rate production along with a price procurement commitment through Lot 7. We understand the urgent need for this weapon and will deliver on our commitments."
AIM-9X is being developed to provide offensive and defensive air superiority for U.S. and allied forces. The missile is the next generation of the combat-proven Sidewinder series missiles that have provided dogfight superiority for more than 45 years. It incorporates a high off-boresight staring focal plane array seeker as well as thrust vector control for extreme agility in all aerial combat environments. The Navy and Air Force will integrate and deploy AIM-9X on the F/A-18E/F, F-16 and F-22.
The AIM-9X flight test program has launched 14 separation and control test vehicles and 12 guided shots in the last 20 months. Two more annual LRIP lots are planned. The development phase will continue through the end of 2002 culminating in the final operational test phase and a milestone review for full rate production approval.
Work on this contract will be performed at Raytheon's Missile Systems unit in Tucson, Ariz. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting agency.
Raytheon Company, based in Lexington, Mass., is a global technology leader that provides products and services in the areas of commercial and defense electronics and business and special mission aircraft. Raytheon has operations throughout the United States and serves customers in more than 70 countries.
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Raytheon Awarded AIM-9X Low Rate Production Contract
