Raytheon Missiles & Defense, a Raytheon Technologies business, is awarded a $972 million contract for upgraded AMRAAM® missiles. This is the first AMRAAM contract to produce an entire lot of AIM-120D3 and AIM-120C8 missiles developed under the Form, Fit, Function Refresh, also known as F3R, which updates both the missile’s hardware and software. In addition to providing missiles to both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy, the contract also supplies AMRAAMs to 19 countries, extending the production line for both the U.S. and Allied partners. Its capabilities have been fully demonstrated in over 4,900 test shots and more than 13 air-to-air combat victories.
“This contract underscores the importance of AMRAAM in the warfighters’ arsenal. These missiles, developed under the Form, Fit, Function Refresh, have the most advanced hardware and software needed to compete with peer adversaries,” said Paul Ferraro, president of Air Power for Raytheon Missiles & Defense.
Under the F3R program, engineers used model-based systems engineering initiatives and other digital technologies to upgrade multiple circuit cards and other hardware in the guidance section of the missile and to re-host legacy software in the AIM-120D3 and AIM-120C8 AMRAAMs. These variants combine System Improvement Program 3F software updates with F3R hardware, providing tremendous capability against advanced threats. The U.S. Air Force had the first live-fire of the production version of AIM-120D3 in June 2022, showcasing the success of the missile against a target. There are two additional live fires planned for 2022.
Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. With four industry-leading businesses ? Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space and Raytheon Missiles & Defense ? the company delivers solutions that push the boundaries in avionics, cybersecurity, directed energy, electric propulsion, hypersonics, and quantum physics. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
