F-35 Fires first AIM-9X

zerion · by **zerion** » 22 Jan 2016, 01:33

F-35 fires first AIM-9X missile

Posted 1/21/2016 Updated 1/21/2016 Email story Print story

from 412th Test Wing Public Affairs

1/21/2016 - EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- An F-35 from the 461st Flight Test Squadron launched an AIM-9X missile for the first time over the Pacific Sea Test Range Jan. 12. The Flight Sciences aircraft, AF-1, of the Joint Strike Fighter Integrated Test Force, was piloted by David Nelson, Lockheed Martin chief F-35 test pilot at Edwards AFB.

The AIM-9X is an advanced infrared missile and the newest of the Sidewinder family of short-range air-to-air missiles carried on a wide range of fighter jets.

The missile was launched at 6,000 ft.

The shot paves the way for the F-35 to utilize the weapon's high off-boresight and targeting capabilities, increasing lethality in the visual arena.

Dragon029 · by **Dragon029** » 22 Jan 2016, 01:45

No pictures other than this yet unfortunately:

Hopefully we'll see something published in the coming days.

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 22 Jan 2016, 01:48

http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/t ... ssile.aspx PHOTO: One of those things eh.... posting at same time....
"AF-1, of the 461st Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., became the first F-35 to fire the AIM-9X missile Jan. 12, 2016. (Lockheed Martin photo/Chad Bellay)" http://media.defense.gov/2016/Jan/21/20 ... 99-301.JPG

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 20 Jul 2016, 00:04

Raytheon plans to add more capability to AIM-9X Block II as USN boosts missile buy
18 Jul 2016 Geoff Fein

"Key Points
• The rapid pace of component obsolescence led to Block II development
• Raytheon is looking to add Block I's air-to-surface software into Block II

Raytheon has received a contract for fiscal year (FY) 2016 Lot 16 AIM-9X missiles, the largest production contract for the missile to date, while the company begins to explore upgrades to the weapon system.

The USD291 million contract award, announced on 12 July, also includes funds for procuring the AIM-9X Block II Captive Air Training Missiles, containers and spare components for the US Navy (USN), US Air Force, and international militaries.

"Lot 16 is the biggest production contract ever received; it puts us right at factory capacity," Stephen Andersen, AIM-9X business development lead for Raytheon, told IHS Jane's on 15 July...."

Source: http://www.janes.com/article/62354/rayt ... issile-buy

count_to_10 · by **count_to_10** » 20 Jul 2016, 02:25

It seems to me that they should be trying to package the sidewinder into a SDB/Hellfire sized package.

neptune · by **neptune** » 20 Jul 2016, 07:31

http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/823199

Raytheon Co., Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is being awarded $291,750,539 for modification P00015 to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm contract (N00019-15-C-0092) for procurement of 660 AIM-9X Block II All Up Round Tactical Full Rate Production Lot 16 Missiles for the;
Navy (160),
Air Force (429),
Army (7)
and the governments of;
Japan (4),
Norway (20) and
Taiwan (40).
....Work is expected to be completed in March 2019.
.. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

southernphantom · by **southernphantom** » 21 Jul 2016, 22:34

count_to_10 wrote:It seems to me that they should be trying to package the sidewinder into a SDB/Hellfire sized package.

You're getting into MSDM territory there.

bring_it_on · by **bring_it_on** » 22 Jul 2016, 10:50

Not MDSM but SACM. MDSM is more of a ' kinetic countermeasures capability '