Tactical Aim Missiles

Abstract

The AIM-9X (Sidewinder) short-range air-to-air missile is a long term evolution of the AIM-9 series of fielded missiles. The AIM-9X missile program provides a launch and leave, air combat munition that uses passive infrared (IR) energy for acquisition and tracking of enemy aircraft and complements the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). Air superiority in the short-range air-to-air missile arena is essential and includes first shot, first kill opportunity against an enemy employing IR countermeasures. The AIM-9X employs several components common with the AIM-9M (fuze, rocket motor and warhead). Anti-Tamper features have been incorporated to protect improvements inherent in this design. AIM-9X is a Post Milestone III, Acquisition Category IC joint service program with Navy lead. The Block II program has entered into Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) and the LRIP-4 contract was awarded in June 2014. This budget line continues the development, test and integration of software updates to the missile and aircraft platform integration to ensure these capabilities perform in accordance with established requirements as documented in the Capabilities Production Document. Beginning in FY 2016, the program will join the US Air Force efforts already in progress to develop missile software improvements for the next incremental version 9.4 (v9.4) as well as hardware updates to improve Insensitive Muntions performance. The AIM-9X Block III program has been cancelled and the hardware updates to improve Insensitive Munitions performance have been moved to the Block II program. This program is funded under OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT because it includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2016
• Source ID: 0207161N_7_1319_PB_2016
• Change Summary Explanation: The FY 2016 funding request was reduced by $0.200 million to account for the availability of prior year execution balances. Schedule: Project 0457: AIM-9X Block II schedule has been updated to reflect Developmental Test, Integrated Test and Operational Testing of Operational Flight Software version 9.4 including improvements associated with integrating the F/A-18 aircraft to utilize full capability of the Block II missile. Project 0458: AIM-9X Block III schedule has been updated to reflect the Department's decision to cancel the Block III program. Cost: Project 0457 FY16 funding increase represents missile software improvements for the next incremental missile software version, Operational Flight Software v9.4, as well as hardware updates to improve Insensitive Munitions (IM) performance. Project 0458: Program funds in FY15 were eliminated by Congressional mark. FY16 funding decrease results from the Department's decision to move the hardware updates to improve Insensitive Munitions performance to the Block II program, and cancel the AIM-9X Block III program. Technical: Not applicable.
• Service Agency Name: Navy

Entities

Organizations

• United States Navy

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• 4G Wireless Networks
• Acquisition
• Air Force
• Air Power
• Aircrafts
• Contracts
• Control Systems
• Cost Analysis
• Cost Estimates
• Cost Reductions
• Costs
• Engineering
• Insensitive Explosives
• Munitions
• Rocket Engines
• Systems Engineering
• Test And Evaluation

Readers

• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.
• Missile Defense Systems.