TUCSON, Ariz., June 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Navy and
Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) completed operational testing and
evaluation live fires of the AIM-9X® Sidewinder Block II infrared
air-to-air missile. Testing and evaluation consisted of 16 planned
shots against a mix of full-scale and sub-scale targets. The U.S.
government is now finalizing approval, acceptance and delivery of
Block II missiles to the U.S. services and foreign allies for later
this year.
"The AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II builds upon the proven
reliability of Block I with significant advancements that improve
handling, loading, in-flight safety and most importantly the
ability to acquire, track and destroy an adversary," said Captain
Jim Stoneman, PMA-259 Air-to-Air
Missiles Program Office, which led development of the Block II
missile.
The new AIM-9X missile retains all of Block I's dogfighting
capabilities and continues to deliver the "First Look, First Shot,
First Kill" capability. It has new processors in the guidance
section and a new fuze that includes a weapon datalink, which can
enable the missile to lock-on-after-launch. Future missile software
updates will be able to further expand missile capabilities as the
speed and increased memory capacity of the new processors are
leveraged.
"The development of AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II now
brings the warfighter two very important missile
capabilities," said Mike Jarrett,
Raytheon Air Warfare Systems vice president. "First, they
have rapid, high off-boresight acquisition to enable the first
firing opportunity in a hard-turning visual dogfight. Second, the
pilot can now extend their reach through the use of aircraft
sensors and weapon datalink to engage with Sidewinder missiles well
before the initial merge to help ensure the survival and triumph of
our warfighters."
About AIM-9X
- AIM-9X is a U.S. Navy-led, joint Navy and U.S. Air Force
program, with program offices in Patuxent
River, Md., and Tucson,
Ariz.
- Raytheon has more than 13 years producing AIM-9X missiles.
- AIM-9X entered operational service in 2003; international
deliveries began in 2005.
- AIM-9X Block I has been delivered to nine U.S. allies with
seven new Block II customers signed up for deliveries beginning in
2015.
About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2014 sales of $23
billion and 61,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and
innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government
and cybersecurity markets throughout the world. With a history
of innovation spanning 93 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art
electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in
the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications
and intelligence systems, as well as cybersecurity and a broad
range of mission support services. Raytheon is headquartered in
Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit www.raytheon.com
and follow us on Twitter @raytheon.
Media Contact
Ashley
Mehl
+1.520.794.5142
rmspr@raytheon.com
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SOURCE Raytheon Company