AIM-9 Product Improvement
Abstract
AIM-9X is a long-term evolution of the AIM-9, a fielded system, qualifying this as a research category operational systems development. The AIM-9X short range Air-to-Air missile modification program provides a launch and leave, air combat munition that uses passive Infra-Red (IR) energy for acquisition and tracking of enemy aircraft and complements the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile. 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). The AIM-9X Block II missile is critical to project power and win decisively in accordance with the Fiscal Year 2015 Defense Planning Guidance. The missile is essential to Pacific Command plans to counter threats employing advanced Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) jamming, cruise missiles, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. The Block II program has completed Independent Operational Testing and found to be Operationally Effective and Suitable. The program obtained a Full Rate Production decision in August 2015, with the first Full Rate Production Lot contract awarded in September 2015. This budget line will continue technical refresh of critical obsolete components, implement cost reduction initiatives, improve insensitive munitions performance, correct deficiencies, increase capabilities through software enhancements, and conduct testing to ensure platform integration onto threshold US Air Force aircraft. The program strategy is to first redesign the control actuation system (CAS) battery and incorporate it into the Lot 17 (FY 2017) production missile. Next, the program will complete AIM-9X Block II software improvements (software version 9.4) and release it into Lot 18 (FY 2018) and prior missiles. The software will provide improved infrared counter-countermeasures, improved lock on after launch capability, added partial and degraded cue capability, improve small target acquisition, and provide surface attack capability. Finally, the program will redesign the inertial measurement unit, the dome, and the guidance unit processor and incorporate these hardware changes into the Lot 19 (FY 2019) production missile. This last item will include a software re-host(software version 10.4) to make software compatible with the new processor. The guidance unit processor is the critical component to ensure continued production of the missile system and avoid production line gaps after Lot 18. AIM-9X Block I concluded in FY2011 and all funding/quantity data in the documents are associated with Block II activities. BA7- This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2017
- Source ID
- 674132_0207161F_7_3600_PB_2017
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