Tactical Aim Missiles

Abstract

The AIM-9X Block II/II+ Sidewinder (AIM-9X Blk II/II+) continues the evolution of the AIM-9 series of missiles. This missile program delivers a launch and leave, air combat munition that uses passive Infrared (IR) energy to acquire and track enemy air targets and complements the radar guided Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). The missile provides fighter aircrew with the first shot, first kill opportunities that are essential for survival during air combat maneuvering in the visual arena. The AIM-9X delivers these opportunities with unmatched offensive and defensive capabilities against threats Within Visual Range, even when IR countermeasures are employed. The AIM-9X also supports air superiority in the Beyond Visual Range air-to-air battle. Anti-tamper features have been incorporated to protect improvements inherent in this design. The AIM-9X Block II missile provides the Joint Force with fighter aircraft lethality and survivability necessary to counter threats identified in the Chief of Naval Operations Guidance and the National Defense Strategy. AIM-9X is a Post Milestone C, Acquisition Category IC joint service program led by the Department of the Navy. The Block II program has completed independent operational testing and was found to be operationally effective and suitable. The program achieved Navy Initial Operational Capability in March 2015 and received Full Rate Production decision in August 2015. In December 2017, the program began to procure a third variant of the missile labeled the AIM-9X Block II PLUS (Block II+) to satisfy the requirements of the Joint Strike Fighter platform. For contracting purposes, the nomenclature of the AIM-9X Block II missile is identified as AIM-9X-2 or AIM-9X-4 and the AIM-9X Block II+ missile is identified as AIM-9X-3 or AIM-9X-5. The AIM-9X-4/5 variant are the Systems Improvement Program (SIP) III configuration with upgraded hardware for obsolescence that cut into Lot 21. This budget line item continues technical refresh of hardware and software and develops advanced capabilities to meet requirements of the Capability Production Document against evolving threat aircraft countermeasures. 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, 2024
• Source ID: 0207161N_7_1319_PB_2024
• Change Summary Explanation: Financial: The FY 2024 funding request was adjusted by $2.969 million for higher priority efforts and rate adjustments. Technical: The OFS 10.5X performance requirements were updated to align with an earlier delivery and fielding as indicated in the schedule. The software development associated with delta performance requirements, which were originally planned for OFS 10.5X, are still being developed on the same timeline; however that capability will be incorporated and fielded as part of OFS 11.5X. Schedule: The SIP III Phase II Hardware ECP shifted from Q3 FY 2022 to Q3 FY 2023 in order to align with completion of the Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) processor development. Software (v10.4) Development will transition from Operational Flight Software (OFS) 10.4X to OFS 10.5X in Q4 FY 2023. The OFS 10.5X development completion timeline, as well as the 10.5X OFS, has shifted left from Q3 2025 and Q4 2025, respectively, to Q4 2024. As a result of the shift in the OFS 10.5X timeline, there is no longer a need for a formal OFS 10.4X release, which has been removed from the schedule. SIP IV Risk Reduction was extended to facilitate transition to the SIP IV contract. The SIP IV contract was awarded in September 2022 which baselined the schedule and resulted in updates to the SIP IV HW ECP completion date from Q2 2026 to Q4 2026 and OFS 11.5X Release date from Q2 2027 to Q4 2027.
• Service Agency Name: Navy

Entities

Organizations

• United States Navy

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Advanced Electronics
• Air Platforms
• Cyber
• Kinetic Weapons
• Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Aircrafts
• Application-Specific Integrated Circuits
• Contracts
• Electronics
• Engineering
• Fighter Aircraft
• Infrared Countermeasures
• Manufacturing
• National Security
• Naval Operations
• Product Development
• Production
• Project Management
• Software Development
• Systems Engineering
• Test And Evaluation
• Unmanned Systems

Readers

• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• Missile Defense Systems.