Multinational Orders for AIM-9M Sidewinder Upgrades

AIM-9M from F-16(click for full shot) Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ received a $30.1 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed price contract (N00019-03-C-0003) for the upgrade of 268 AIM-9M missiles for the Governments of Pakistan (200; $21.4M, 70.8%), Malaysia (57; $6.1M, 20.2%), and Korea (11; $1.2M, 3.9%); and for 229 Circuit Card Assembly kits for the Government of Canada ($1.5M, 5.1%). The AIM-9M missile began production in 1982, and has been bought in quantity. Even though the new AIM-9X is now in production, the AIM-9M remains the main short range air-air missile (SRAAM) of the US Air Force and several allied Air Forces. DID describes the AIM-9M version, and its updates. One of these orders is also related to a larger fighter fleet expansion and refurbishment, and ties into previous DID articles. We cover that, too… The AIM-9M: Last of the 3rd Generation AIM-9M The AIM-9M Sidewinder is a development of the AIM-9L, whose ability to track the heat from air friction over an enemy plane made it the first US SRAAM able to home in on its targets from the front as well as the rear. The AIM-9L was used very successfully by the British Royal Navy’s […]