Tactical AIM Missiles

The PE 0207161N: Tactical AIM Missiles program is a Navy Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) line item focused on the continued development and enhancement of the AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missile. The primary goal of this program is to ensure that the AIM-9X remains a highly effective, launch-and-leave, air-to-air munition capable of countering advanced enemy aircraft employing sophisticated infrared (IR) countermeasures. The program is justified by the need to maintain air superiority and provide fighter aircraft with first-shot, first-kill capabilities, as outlined in the Chief of Naval Operations Guidance and the National Defense Strategy.

AIM-9X Block II is a joint service program led by the Department of the Navy and is classified as a post-Milestone C, Acquisition Category IC program. The missile has achieved both Initial Operational Capability (IOC) and Full Rate Production (FRP) status, with ongoing efforts focused on technical refreshes and capability enhancements. The program is structured to address evolving threats by developing new hardware and software solutions, mitigating component obsolescence, and integrating advanced anti-tamper and cybersecurity features.

A key objective for FY 2026 is the execution of System Improvement Program (SIP) Phase IV, which includes both hardware and software upgrades. This phase will see the completion of SIP IV sensor and electronics unit hardware development, as well as the initiation of software development for Operational Flight Software (OFS) versions 11.5X and 11.6X. These software upgrades are designed to optimize new hardware with updated algorithms, further enhancing the missile's ability to counter advanced threats and maintain operational effectiveness.

Another significant goal is the development and integration of a new Digital Fuze to upgrade the Active Optical Target Detector. This initiative aims to address updated operational requirements while reducing future procurement costs. The program also includes efforts to redesign missile components facing obsolescence, ensuring continued producibility and reliability, and to incorporate improvements in energetics, anti-tamper, and cybersecurity technologies.

Test and Evaluation (T&E) activities are critical to the program's objectives, supporting the integration of the AIM-9X with U.S. Navy aircraft platforms such as the F/A-18 series. Planned T&E efforts for FY 2026 include developmental, integration, and operational testing of OFS 10.5X and the initiation of flight testing for OFS 11.5X, contingent on hardware delivery. These activities are essential to validate new capabilities and ensure the missile's performance against current and emerging threats.

Management services within this line item support transportation and travel related to major test events and program decisions. These logistical efforts are necessary to facilitate the execution of development, testing, and integration activities across multiple sites, including Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ, and Navy test facilities at Patuxent River, MD, and China Lake, CA.