RTX’s Raytheon business has been awarded a USD 1.1 billion (EUR 0.96 billion) contract from the US Navy to produce AIM-9X Block II missiles, the company announced on 4 June 2025.
This represents the largest contract awarded for the programme to date and will increase production to 2,500 missiles per year.
“This award represents a historic milestone for the AIM-9X programme, further emphasising its importance to the US and partnered nations,” Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Power at Raytheon, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “Through our partnership with the US Navy, we are well positioned to support this increased demand.”
Raytheon bills the AIM-9X as “the most advanced infrared-tracking, short-range, air-to-air and surface-to-air missile that is combat proven in several theatres around the world”. It is configured for easy installation on a wide range of modern combat aircraft and provides layered air defence as an effector for ground-based systems such as the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS).
Produced under a US Navy-led joint programme with the US Air Force, the AIM-9X is used by over 30 allied and partner nations.
![The US Navy (USN) carrier USS John C Stennis (left), the French Navy carrier FS Charles de Gaulle, and elements of their strike groups are pictured sailing together in US Fifth Fleet’s area of operations. The US, French, and UK navies are all developing ‘hybrid’ crewed/uncrewed mixes for their carrier airwing capability. [US Navy]](https://euro-sd.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2-HST-CdG-USN-Kopie-218x150.jpg "Hybrid navies: Integrating uncrewed capability into carrier strike")
