ELMENDORF AFB, Alaska (November 13, 2003) – The United States Navy and the Raytheon Company celebrated today the achievement of Initial Operational Capability (IOC) of AIM-9X with the United States Air Force. Commemorating the IOC with a ceremony at Elmendorf AFB, the 12th and 19th Fighter Squadrons of the 3rd Wing, 11th Air Force are now the first operational units to field and train with AIM-9X.

“I'm extremely proud our AIM-9X Government / Industry Team. They have successfully developed and fielded a dominant air-to-air missile to the American warfighter,” said NAVAIR Air-to-Air Program Manager Captain Scott Stewart. “No longer a development program, AIM-9X is a reality that will change the rules of Air Combat forever. It's very satisfying to hear the words of praise from the Elmendorf aircrews and ordnance personnel. After all, warfighter satisfaction is what it is all about!”

AIM-9X changes the rules of the aerial combat through a system design approach that incorporates a fifth-generation staring focal plane array (FPA) seeker for robust guidance performance, and Infrared Countermeasure (IRCM) resistance and jet vane control for extremely agile turning performance.

"We're thrilled the 3rd Wing has the opportunity to be on the cutting edge of combat technology," said Col. Russ Handy, 3rd Operations Group Commander at Elmendorf. "The AIM-9X adds even more lethality to our already awesome air-to-air capability. As always, the 3rd Wing stands ready and able to place the right people in the right place at the right time, and the AIM-9X will be key to our success during any contingency."

AIM-9X has undergone an extensive and highly successful flight test program that has been complemented by a sophisticated and accredited modeling and simulation capability. AIM-9X is a U.S. Department of Defense flagship program for modeling simulation, saving more than $50 million in development costs.

The program scored an unprecedented 18 successes in 19 guided flights during development testing and completed 22 OPEVAL firings. The missile has also undergone more than 3,500 hours of rigorous captive flight testing.

In the third year of production, the AIM-9X program continues as planned. Formal operational evaluation (OPEVAL) has been completed and all Lot 1 deliveries were accomplished ahead of schedule. A fourth production contract award is planned for late 2003. With a planned 18-year production run, AIM-9X will provide revolutionary capability to U.S. and allied war fighters through 2018.

“We are extremely proud to deliver on our promise of 21st century air dominance,” said Don Targoff, Raytheon’s vice president for air-to-air missiles in Tucson, Ariz. “It is great to see a program go from a design on paper just a few years ago, to being used on a daily basis by the warfighters on the tip of the spear.”

Future AIM-9X plans aim to further enhance the missiles’ capabilities especially in the transformational “network enabled” warfare environment. Potential improvements include: “lock-on after launch” mode that creates a 360-degree threat engagement zone; and a vertical acquisition scan or “helmet-less” high off bore-sight mode that permits first shot opportunity with AIM-9X even if the aircraft does not incorporate a helmet mounted cueing system.

Eleven countries have expressed interest in the AIM-9X. Switzerland, South Korea and Poland have selected AIM-9X to fill their future short-range missile requirements after thorough comprehensive evaluations. Raytheon expects to produce over 10,000 missiles to be delivered to the U. S Navy and Air Force and for international customers.

NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technology through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. From professional training to carrier launch; from sensor data to precision targeting; from aircraft and weapons development to successful deployment; from real-time communication to aircraft recovery, NAVAIR provides dominant combat effects and matchless capabilities to the American warfighter.

For more information about the AIM-9X or Air-to-Air programs please contact Denise Deon Wilson, Public Affairs Officer for PEO-T at 301-481-6263 or [email protected].